


	Below you can see all upcoming meetings or relevant agenda items. All items will be moved to the Past Meetings section of the website one day after the date they are scheduled for. To sign up for future meetings, please complete this form and follow the email directions. All content of the presentation descriptions on this page, and all content of the presentations themselves, are the responsibility of the presenters themselves and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Program in Psychiatry & the Law or its participants. Wednesday, October 15, 2025 Presenter: The Honorable Suzanne V. DelVecchio Title: The US Judiciary Under Siege Background: As the numerous challenges are being brought before the court related to withholding of federal grants previously awarded to academic institutions, large scale employment firings from the federal workforce, executive orders related to birthright citizenship, ICE raids and immigration etc, the judiciary is under siege. Judge DelVecchio will present legal insights into the current state of affairs. Details: Sponsored by Donna Norris, MD Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Presenter: Stanley L. Brodsky PhD and M.E. Wood PhD Title: The Forensic Road Less Traveled By Details: A critical aspect of forensic mental health practice is clarifying the referral question with the client (oftentimes the attorney or Court), and maintaining one’s objectivity in that stated role, which includes staying within the boundaries of answering precisely only that which was asked. However, there are times when the boundaries of this role/question are more ambiguous than we might like, and still other occasions wherein straying from that narrowly-defined position may be beneficial – and occasionally justified. This presentation will describe a few of these unique scenarios, along with some of the benefits – and potential disadvantages – of taking the road less traveled in forensic mental health practice. The presenters will discuss each scenario from a therapeutic jurisprudence perspective, with a particular focus on some of the ethical issues that arise in navigating these scenarios. We argue that sensitivity to the broad forensic mental health context and systemic forces requires some degree of flexibility on part of the examiner and may suggest the need for an occasional willingness to cautiously step to the side in forensic practice or at least broaden the focus of our forensic role(s). Wednesday, October 29, 2025 Presenter: No meeting today Title: No meeting today Background: To accommodate the Boston Meeting of AAPL Wednesday, November 5, 2025 Presenter: Paul S. Appelbaum MD Title: Medical Malpractice: Coming Changes and Their Impact on Psychiatry Details: In 2024, the American Law Institute revised its influential Restatement of the Law for medical malpractice. The most important change is an updated standard for determining when a clinician is negligent, which emphasizes the failure to provide reasonable care, replacing the traditional standard of customary care. Determinations of reasonable care can consider evidence from the medical literature and practice guidelines, even if they have not yet generally been adopted in ordinary practice, as well as contextual factors. Although not yet incorporated into law, the new standard underscores the importance of clinicians staying current with changes in evidence-based practice. Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, November 19, 2025 Presenter: Bandy Lee M.D., M.Div. Title: Goldwater Rule vs. the Declaration of Geneva: Is There a Need to Redefine Professional Societal Responsibility at this Time? Background: In editing The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President in 2017—and recently The Much More Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 50 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Warn Anew—I have highlighted the ethical tensions between the Goldwater Rule and the Declaration of Geneva. Details: My recent interview with Andy Borowitz of The New Yorker has prompted requests that I revisit the issue in this forum (see: https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/the-psychiatrist-who-warned-us-about). The American Psychiatric Association’s Goldwater Rule discourages psychiatrists from diagnosing public figures they have not personally examined, to avoid politicization of the field,[Editors note: among other reasons including professional integrity]. The APA “reaffirmed” and expanded the Rule in March 2017. By contrast, the Declaration of Geneva—the World Medical Association’s update of the Hippocratic Oath following the Nuremberg trials—places patient and public welfare above technical compliance. It emphasizes medicine’s ethical duty to protect humanity and the humanitarian goals of preventing harm to human life, and of speaking up when silence could endanger others. How exactly to resolve these tensions may warrant discussion that is psychiatrically and ethically relevant for forensic practice. Wednesday, November 26, 2025 Presenter: No meeting today Title: Day before Thanksgiving Wednesday, December 3, 2025 Presenter: Carlos A. Larrauri, J.D., & Diana Vukel Title: A Clinical and Forensic Perspective on Groups of Prejudice and Intolerance Details: The chapter “Groups of Prejudice and Intolerance” looks at cults and persuasive leadership through a clinical and forensic lens. Through detailed case studies and retrospective analysis of well-known antisemites from the 20th century, we focus on how ideology-driven hate groups form and gain influence. It explores how qualities like victimhood, charisma, malignant narcissism, and malignant messianism can attract followers, particularly during times of social or personal crisis. Thus, we provide an overview of the psychological and social factors that fuel these movements. While the examples are historical, the themes are relevant to understanding many forms of modern extremist groups. Wednesday, December 10, 2025 Presenter: Ed Bernstine Ph.D., James Wilson Ph.D. Title: Political Upheaval and Public Health Background: Prolonged political upheaval can lead to mental and physical illness through chronic stress-related pathways. Wednesday, December 17, 2025 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, December 24, 2025 Presenter: No meeting today Title: Christmas Eve Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Presenter: No meeting today Title: New Years Eve Wednesday, January 7, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, February 4, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, February 18, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, February 25, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Presenter: Usual Participants Title: Regular Meeting

FILE LIBRARY

The Program in Psychiatry and The Law meets virtually on Wednesday mornings at 11:00 AM.

Check our meetings page regularly to find out about our upcoming meetings.

Our file library includes copies of the Amicus Briefs to which we have contributed: Althaus v. Cohen (PA) and Citizens for Health v. Thompson (Third Circuit).

Thursday, March 13, 2025
PIPATL Form for Inclusion in the Schedule

Get the form from this link

Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Covid19 led us to virtual meetings - no in person meetings for now

Wishing everybody health and safety during this unprecedented time.