In the practice of forensic medicine there is such a concept - "psychiatric post-mortem examination." Indeed, in some cases, a forensic expert makes a conclusion after the death of a person. Let’s talk about what a forensic psychiatric examination is and in what cases it is performed posthumously.
What is a forensic psychiatric examination?
A forensic psychiatric examination is an examination procedure conducted by a qualified medical professional, psychiatrist. The purpose of this event is to establish the sanity or mental inferiority of the person who has become a victim in a criminal case, as well as the accused and witnesses who are involved in the case. When it comes to civil claims, a forensic psychiatric examination can be carried out both in relation to the plaintiff and the defendant.
In order to reach an opinion, a forensic psychiatrist should become as familiar as possible with the case in which he is to work. He gets access to all materials provided by the prosecution and the defense, and also talks with the person being examined.
But what to do if the investigation needs a conclusion on the sanity or insanity of a deceased person? In this case, a psychiatric post-mortem examination is performed.
In what cases is an examination posthumously appointed?
Carrying out this type of research can, if necessary, be determined by the investigation in criminal cases, as well as in civil cases.
If a criminal case is being considered, then a psychiatric post-mortem examination may be appointed in the following cases:
- if a person has committed a crime and died before the trial;
- when a retrial of the sentence of the convicted person who died before the meeting is held;
- if the victim, in respect of whom an unlawful act was committed, has died, but before his death he has managed to report some information to the investigating authorities;
- in case of human suicide.
If we are talking about civil proceedings, then a psychiatric examination is posthumously appointed when considering claims related to acts of gift of property or his will.
Post-mortem psychiatric examination
The biggest difficulty in conducting this kind of research is that the person is no longer alive. And the forensic psychiatrist has to restore bit by bit the psychological portrait of the deceased in order to determine the features of his character, response to various situations, motives of his behavior.
The psychiatrist is provided with all case materials collected by the investigating authorities. Often, documents become the only sources that this specialist can rely on in carrying out his task. That is why the correctness of the decision made by the physician largely depends on how the investigation worked on the case.
The expert makes a conclusion on the basis of the documents examined by him. At the same time, he resolves some expert issues.
Post-mortem psychiatric examination: questions
The issues submitted for examination are conventionally divided into main and additional. The primary research questions include the following:
- What psychological state was observed in the subject before death?
- Did this psychological state arise due to actions performed by another person? If the subject committed suicide, then such actions of another person are understood as threats, violence, cruelty or humiliation of human dignity.
Additional issues that may be dealt with by a psychiatric post-mortem examination may include the following:
- Was the subject undergoing a state of psychological stress or emotional arousal?
- Is it possible to conclude that the subject was in a state of physiological affect?
Forensic Psychiatrist's Opinion
A post-mortem psychiatric examination involves the preparation by a doctor of a document, a conclusion based on the results of the examination. This document has a specific structure.
First, the formal side of the study is described. A decree on the appointment of an examination is attached , the positions and names of the employees who appointed the study are indicated. The circumstances are also described, on the basis of which a decision was made on the examination, the names of the psychiatrists who participated in the study are listed. Then, the circumstances of the case are indicated, as well as information about the life of the person being examined, and possible symptoms of a mental disorder. In the final part, a conclusion is made about the psychological state of the subject, an expert diagnosis is made and its rationale is given.
Such an examination helps not only to outline the psychological portrait of the person being examined. A distinction can also be made between a suicide, a murder, or even a premeditated murder disguised as suicide, by a psychiatric examination carried out posthumously by qualified specialists.