Legal insanity : explorations in psychiatry, law, and ethics / Gerben Meynen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Meynen, Gerben, 1971-

Series:

International library of ethics, law, and the new medicine ; v.71.

International library of ethics, law, and the new medicine ; v. 71

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Insanity defense.

Insanity (Law).

Defense (Criminal procedure).

Physical Description:

xiii, 196 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Switzerland : Springer International Publishing, 2016.

Summary:

This book examines core issues related to legal insanity, integrating perspectives from psychiatry, law, and ethics. Various criteria for insanity are analyzed and recommendations for forensic psychiatric and legal practice are offered. Many legal systems have an insanity defense, in one form or another. Still, it remains unclear exactly when and why mental disorders affect a person's moral or criminal responsibility. Questions addressed in this book include: Why should insanity be a component of our legal system? What should be the criteria for an insanity defense? What would be the reasons for abolishing it? Who should bear the burden of proof? Furthermore, the book discusses the impact neurosciences may have on psychiatric and psychological evaluations of defendants as well as on legal decisions about insanity.

Contents:

Introduction

Legal insanity standards: their structure and elements

Arguments against the insanity defense and responses

Lack of free will and irrationality

Competent and compromised decision-making

Neurolaw: challenges and opportunities

Issues to consider when revising legal insanity

Concluding observations on the present and future of insanity.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-190) and index.

ISBN:

9783319447193

331944719X

OCLC:

953709564