Assessment
Choosing CM Medico-legal means a comprehensive, collaborative assessment. There are multiple types of assessment that vary according to individual need:
Forensic Assessment
Forensic assessment considers risk and the young person’s psychiatric well-being (i.e. the presence of ADHD, ASD, Psychosis, Mood Disorder, Conduct Disorder). Specifically, it considers the risk that an individual poses to their own well being and that of others so that opinion can be given about the relationship between the individual's mental health and the risk of future offending behaviour.
This type of assessment can influence:
- Fitness to Plead decisions
If a young person has been charged with a crime, however, there are known or potential pre-existing mental health problem(s) a forensic assessment can help to establish whether the young person has capacity to stand trial.
- Sentencing decisions
Forensic assessment might also inform a courts sentencing decision; in some circumstances presence of mental health problems at the time of the offence can be a mitigating factor.
Medical Legal Assessment
This form of assessment can be required during the process of civil litigation, for instance to establish the relationship between psychological distress and trauma such as a car accident. Medico-legal assessments can influence decisions such as the amount of financial compensation that is awarded.
Family Court
A child psychiatrist's report can be relevant in Family Court, for instance reporting on the impact of trauma sustained following abuse or neglect of a child. This type of assessment considers the well-being of the child and the parent and influences decisions about the parent’s capacity to look after the child and meet their needs. Consequently a report of this type can also be used by child protection services (e.g. Children’s Services) to help decide whether alternative living arrangements are required.
Forensic Assessment
Forensic assessment considers risk and the young person’s psychiatric well-being (i.e. the presence of ADHD, ASD, Psychosis, Mood Disorder, Conduct Disorder). Specifically, it considers the risk that an individual poses to their own well being and that of others so that opinion can be given about the relationship between the individual's mental health and the risk of future offending behaviour.
This type of assessment can influence:
- Fitness to Plead decisions
If a young person has been charged with a crime, however, there are known or potential pre-existing mental health problem(s) a forensic assessment can help to establish whether the young person has capacity to stand trial.
- Sentencing decisions
Forensic assessment might also inform a courts sentencing decision; in some circumstances presence of mental health problems at the time of the offence can be a mitigating factor.
Medical Legal Assessment
This form of assessment can be required during the process of civil litigation, for instance to establish the relationship between psychological distress and trauma such as a car accident. Medico-legal assessments can influence decisions such as the amount of financial compensation that is awarded.
Family Court
A child psychiatrist's report can be relevant in Family Court, for instance reporting on the impact of trauma sustained following abuse or neglect of a child. This type of assessment considers the well-being of the child and the parent and influences decisions about the parent’s capacity to look after the child and meet their needs. Consequently a report of this type can also be used by child protection services (e.g. Children’s Services) to help decide whether alternative living arrangements are required.
