Unsolicited E-mails to Forensic Psychiatrists

Susan Hatters Friedman; Jacob M Appel; Peter Ash; Richard L Frierson; Deborah Giorgi-Guarnieri; Richard Martinez; Alan W Newman; Debra A Pinals; Phillip J Resnick; Alexander I F Simpson

Unsolicited E-mails to Forensic Psychiatrists

J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2016 Dec;44(4):470-478.

Affiliations

¹ Dr. Friedman is Associate Professor, University of Auckland, New Zealand, and Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH. Dr. Appel is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Icahn Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Dr. Ash is Professor, Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Frierson is Professor, Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC. Dr. Giorgi-Guarnieri is in Private Practice, Williamsburg, VA. Dr. Martinez is Professor of Psychiatry and the Law, University of Colorado, Denver, School of Medicine, Denver CO. Dr. Newman is Chair of Psychiatry, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA. Dr. Pinals is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Dr. Resnick is Professor of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Dr. Simpson is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Authors represented the Committee on Psychiatry and Law for the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry. susanhfmd@hotmail.com.
² Dr. Friedman is Associate Professor, University of Auckland, New Zealand, and Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH. Dr. Appel is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Icahn Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Dr. Ash is Professor, Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Frierson is Professor, Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC. Dr. Giorgi-Guarnieri is in Private Practice, Williamsburg, VA. Dr. Martinez is Professor of Psychiatry and the Law, University of Colorado, Denver, School of Medicine, Denver CO. Dr. Newman is Chair of Psychiatry, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA. Dr. Pinals is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Dr. Resnick is Professor of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Dr. Simpson is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Authors represented the Committee on Psychiatry and Law for the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry.

PMID: 28003391

Abstract

E-mail communication is pervasive. Since many forensic psychiatrists have their e-mail addresses available online (either on personal websites, university websites, or articles they have authored), they are likely to receive unsolicited e-mails. Although there is an emerging body of literature about exchanging e-mail with patients, there is little guidance about how to respond to e-mails from nonpatients. Therefore, we used a Delphi technique to develop a consensus about salient points for the forensic psychiatrist to consider regarding responding to e-mails from nonpatients and the risks entailed. Four scenarios are described, including e-mails from nonpatients and unknown others requesting advice or help. The potential ethics-related, legal, moral, and practical concerns for forensic psychiatrists are discussed. Finally, potential pitfalls for forensic psychiatrists are described.

MeSH terms

Counseling / ethics*
Delphi Technique
Electronic Mail / ethics*
Forensic Psychiatry*
Humans
Risk Assessment