What is a forensic psychiatrist?
A forensic psychiatrist is a medical doctor with, first, the additional training of a psychiatrist, and then with special training and experience (forensic) in the application of psychiatric knowledge to questions posed by the legal system. A forensic psychiatrist may also have a clinical practice. However, when acting in the capacity of a forensic specialist, he or she is not providing therapy to alleviate the patient’s suffering or to help the patient be free and healthy, but an objective evaluation for use by the retaining institution, attorney, or court.
