TY - JOUR
T1 - Unsolicited e-mails to forensic psychiatrists
AU - Friedman, Susan Hatters
AU - Appel, Jacob M.
AU - Ash, Peter
AU - Frierson, Richard L.
AU - Giorgi-Guarnieri, Deborah
AU - Martinez, Richard
AU - Newman, Alan W.
AU - Pinals, Debra A.
AU - Resnick, Phillip J.
AU - Simpson, Alexander I.F.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85007473648
M3 - Article
C2 - 28003391
AN - SCOPUS:85007473648
SN - 1093-6793
VL - 44
SP - 470
EP - 478
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
IS - 4
ER -