<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Required reading for every mental health professional
Review: This book, one of a series on mental health law in different states, should be required reading for every practicing mental health clinician. First in a narrative section and then in a question-and-answer format, the book covers key aspects of the law (civil commitment, guardianship, confidentiality, subpoenas, consultation, criminal issues, liability and record-keeping) that are relevant to, and affect, clinical practice. It covers these issues with thoughtfulness, elegant writing and with empathy and respect for the reader. And, it makes the law alive, vital and exciting. Reading it is like listening to a very intelligent conversation that explains how the law understands, and supports, the work we do and invites us to think about the process of meetings its standards. Although focused on Massachusetts law, I suspect that the book could also be helpful to clinicians from other areas because the issues addressed cut across state lines. The book teaches us about the law while weaving a story about the way the law interacts with, and informs, clinical practice. The book also shows us how the law has broadened the context of clinical practice to take the public welfare into account. The book teaches clinicians how to think about legal and ethical conflicts, how to approach these dilemmas in an intelligent way and how to protect ourselves from legal violations. For instance, the section on the landmark Tarasoff decision, which has affected practice in every state, covers the California decision in detail, the way it has been modified to fit mental health practice in Massachusetts and how it gets played out in actual practice. This book is an important reference work that clinicians will want to consult often as a very readable guide to ethically and legally sound practice. I recommend it highly
Rating:
Summary: Required reading for every mental health professional
Review: This book, one of a series on mental health law in different states, should be required reading for every practicing mental health clinician. First in a narrative section and then in a question-and-answer format, the book covers key aspects of the law (civil commitment, guardianship, confidentiality, subpoenas, consultation, criminal issues, liability and record-keeping) that are relevant to, and affect, clinical practice. It covers these issues with thoughtfulness, elegant writing and with empathy and respect for the reader. And, it makes the law alive, vital and exciting. Reading it is like listening to a very intelligent conversation that explains how the law understands, and supports, the work we do and invites us to think about the process of meetings its standards. Although focused on Massachusetts law, I suspect that the book could also be helpful to clinicians from other areas because the issues addressed cut across state lines. The book teaches us about the law while weaving a story about the way the law interacts with, and informs, clinical practice. The book also shows us how the law has broadened the context of clinical practice to take the public welfare into account. The book teaches clinicians how to think about legal and ethical conflicts, how to approach these dilemmas in an intelligent way and how to protect ourselves from legal violations. For instance, the section on the landmark Tarasoff decision, which has affected practice in every state, covers the California decision in detail, the way it has been modified to fit mental health practice in Massachusetts and how it gets played out in actual practice. This book is an important reference work that clinicians will want to consult often as a very readable guide to ethically and legally sound practice. I recommend it highly
<< 1 >>
| 
