Mental Health Practitioners in the Legal System

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on the roles of mental health practitioners in the legal system, ethical considerations, and other relevant topics.

Forensics

A subspecialty that deals with the intersection of mental health and the law, often involving assessments of competency, dangerousness, and jury selection.

NGRI

Not guilty by reason of insanity; a legal defense asserting that a defendant was unable to understand that their actions were wrong due to mental illness.

Ethical issues

Concerns that mental health practitioners face, including fees, role conflicts, and their obligations when serving as expert witnesses.

Expert witnesses

Mental health professionals who provide opinions in legal cases, expected to remain unbiased and impartial.

Cognitive distortion

A pattern of negative thinking that distorts one’s perceptions, often discussed in the context of mental health and legal evaluations.

Child custody roles

Various responsibilities held by professionals in custody evaluations, including guardian ad litem, evaluators, mediators, and psychotherapists.

Duty

A legal obligation that a professional must fulfill towards their client.

Claims made

Insurance claims that occurred during a specific policy year and covered if the policy is continued and the claim is filed while the renewal policy is active.

Tail coverage

Insurance coverage that applies to claims filed after a policy has ended, particularly when switching carriers or retiring.

Falsifiability

The principle that a statement or hypothesis must be able to be proven false to be considered scientific.