Multidisciplinary Teamwork and the Insanity Defence: A Case of Infanticide in Iraq

Abstract

In April 2018, the author had an opportunity to visit Al-Rashad Hospital (where the only forensic psychiatry unit in Iraq exists) and he had the chance to meet with the brave psychiatrists and mental health professionals who worked in the oldest psychiatric hospital in Iraq. The author was amazed by how these colleagues operate amidst all challenges, limited financial resources and funding difficulties. The author was impressed by the work of the forensic psychiatry committee which determines the criminal responsibility of a large number of cases from all over Iraq. He had the chance of attending the Ministry of Health’s specialist panel which determines criminal responsibility for mentally disordered detainees. He attended the assessment of a young lady who was remanded on suspicion of killing her 1 year old son (infanticide). The panel and after two interviews concluded that the suspect had autism and learning disability. The patient was deemed irresponsible for her criminal behaviour and she was eventually granted an equivalent of a hospital treatment order.