Pj. Resnick et Cl. Scott, LEGAL ISSUES IN TREATING PERPETRATORS AND VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE, The Psychiatric clinics of North America, 20(2), 1997, pp. 473
Psychiatrists are increasingly asked to see patients who have been eit
her perpetrators or victims of violence. Common situations involving l
egal implications for the psychiatrist include evaluations for civil c
ommitment, potential dangerousness, protecting third parties, and the
release from the hospital of a previously violent individual. Psychiat
rists should be aware of the legal principles governing treatment of v
iolent patients as well as the use of restraints, seclusion, and force
d medication. The psychiatrist also has legal duties in evaluating vic
tims of violence. These responsibilities are delineated in laws requir
ing mandatory reporting of child abuse, elder abuse, and abuse of deve
lopmentally disabled persons.