Civil Forensic Psychiatry - part 3: practical aspects of managing a medico-legal practice.

OBJECTIVES: This is the third in a series of papers on Civil Forensic Psychiatry and provides practical advice for forensic psychiatrists, general psychiatrists and trainees who are expanding or contemplating a medico-legal aspect to their practice. CONCLUSIONS: Attention to the practice setting, office layout, recording of information, management of documentation, screening of briefs and proper timetabling can improve safety, quality, reliability and workload manageability.

Civil forensic psychiatry - Part 2: specific issues.

OBJECTIVES: This paper describes the main areas of civil forensic psychiatry (FP) and the skills required by psychiatric experts. Some specific areas of civil FP are discussed, including tort law reform, reliability of psychiatric evidence, contentious psychiatric disorders, and the many domains of civil FP. CONCLUSIONS: Civil FP is an important sub-specialty component of forensic psychiatry that requires greater emphasis in the training and continuing education of psychiatrists. A process of accrediting psychiatrists as having competency in advanced civil FP may be of value.

Civil forensic psychiatry - Part 1: an overview.

Objectives This paper provides an overview for general and forensic psychiatrists of the complexity and challenge of working in the civil medico-legal arena. It covers expert evidence, ethics, core concepts in civil forensic psychiatry and report writing. Conclusions Civil forensic psychiatry is an important sub-speciality component of forensic psychiatry that requires specific skills, knowledge and the ability to assist legal bodies in determining the significance of psychiatric issues.