Psychiatry and law: how are they related?

Psychiatry and law: how are they related?

Series Title(s):
Concepts and controversies in modern medicine
Contributor(s):
Szasz, Thomas, 1920-2012
Diamond, Bernard L. (Bernard Lee), 1912-
National Medical Audiovisual Center.
United States. Public Health Service.
Publication:
[Bethesda, MD] : The Center, 1970
Language(s):
English
Format:
Moving image
Subject(s):
Forensic Psychiatry
Abstract:
This film, part of a series produced by the U.S. National Medical Audiovisual Center, presents a discussion about the role of the psychiatrist in criminal law, courtroom, and prison. Alexander Brooks of the Rutgers University Law School moderates. Panelists Dr. Thomas Szasz and Dr. Bernard Diamond take opposing views. Szasz argues that psychiatry is used to manipulate both the law and the defendant, and is not applied in any scientific way in the courtroom, nor can it be. Throughout his career, Szasz contended that mental illness was a myth, and that a medical, neuro-diagnostic model was not useful for understanding the human struggle. Dr. Bernard Diamond, who developed the "diminished capacity" legal defense and testified on behalf of Sirhan Sirhan during his trial for the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, argues that defendants can be mentally ill or impaired and that this must be assessed by psychiatrists and considered in trial strategy and in sentencing.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
Extent:
058 min.
Color:
Black and white
Credits:
Thomas S. Szasz, Bernard L. Diamond.
Provenance:
Received: Jan. 29, 1975 as a donation from the National Medical Audiovisual Center.
Technique:
Live action
NLM Unique ID:
8800432A (See catalog record)
OCLC no.:
31662181
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/8800432A