Forensic Psychiatry
Forensic Psychiatry Program
Head: Dr. R. O'Shaughnessy, Clinical Professor
The
forensic program offers educational and research opportunities in
the subspecialty area of forensic psychiatry. Forensic psychiatry
as defined by the Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and Law
encompasses interface issues between psychiatry and the law in
which psychiatric knowledge, research, and opinion are applied to
assist the courts in resolving legal disputes within legal
contexts. Forensic psychiatry encompasses, but is not limited to,
issues in criminal law such as assessing competency to stand trial
and mental responsibility at the time of the offence as well as
assisting the court in managing offenders with mental disorders at
the pre-sentence and post-sentence phase. Civil forensic psychiatry
encompasses the assessment of mental disorders suffered by persons
who have sustained personal injuries, the evaluation of disability,
claims for Workers’ Compensation, evaluations of various
competencies including capacity to enter into contract, manage
financial affairs, and make a will as well as legal competency to
instruct counsel. In child and adolescent fields, forensic
psychiatry encompasses assessment of young offenders charged with
criminal offence under the YCJA, assessments of parental
capacity¸ assessment for child abuse and/or neglect, and
assessments for child custody.
The forensic program offers clinical placements in three separate
sites. The Adult Forensic Hospital under the clinical direction of
Dr. Brink offers student and residency placements in the Forensic
Hospital and outpatient services. These focus on assessments of
mental state at the time of offences, competency to stand trial,
treatment of individuals with mental disorders, and assistance in
the management of violent behaviour while on probation. The service
also provides opportunity for assessment and treatment of offenders
in provincial penal institutions. The Youth Forensic Psychiatric
Services under the clinical direction of Dr. Riar offers placements
to assess and treat young offenders both in the inpatient unit and
in the detention centre as well as in outpatient facilities around
the province. They also offer specialized programs for the
assessment and treatment of violent adolescents and adolescent
sexual offenders. Civil forensic psychiatry under the direction of
Dr. O’Shaughnessy is located at the St. Paul’s Hospital
medical legal clinic. Residents and students are offered the
opportunity of assessing individuals claiming psychological injury
following personal injury as well as doing evaluations of
competency and malpractice assessments.
