Psychiatrist in court: Indian scenario

Abstract

The impetus for practical exposure to legalities that arise in the context of psychiatry and law is minimal in postgraduate training in psychiatry and curriculum. Those who choose to get trained often do not get first-hand exposure to court proceedings. Law and psychiatry often come into each other's interface, and psychiatry is regulated by the legal system more often than the other specialties in medicine. This article is an attempt to equip the psychiatrist in dealing with instances where they will present themselves in court.