Review of injury lawyers in chicago::What Is the Definition for Malpractice
Review of injury lawyers in chicago::What Is the Definition for Malpractice
It's unfortunate but there are some people who fake physical or psychological symptoms just to get attention, money or some other sort of incentive. This type of behavior is labeled as malingering. To help gain an understanding of malingering I have interviewed clinical psychologist Dr. Tony Fletcher. Tell me a little bit about yourself. "I am a licensed clinical psychologist, clinical Neuropsychologist, and forensic psychologist who is employed by the Illinois Department of Human Services at Elgin Mental Health Center in the Forensic Treatment Program. I completed my Doctor of Psychology degree from Nova Southeastern University and a two-year fellowship in clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I am a lecturer at various medical centers and universities in the Chicago area, and I have worked with the Secret Service, FBI, States Attorney's office, civil and criminal lawyers." What is malingering? "Malingering is not considered a disorder, but an area of clinical interest. In the DSM-IV-TR it is defined as "the intentional production of false or grossly exaggerated physical or psychological symptoms, motivated by external incentives". In contrast with a true mental disorder, when malingering is present it is assumed that the individual is volitionally making up symptoms, exaggerating true symptoms or suppressing true abilities in order to obtain some desired goal (i.e. avoiding jail, winning money in a civil case, avoiding going into the military). Again, malingering is not considered a mental illness, but is an area of interest particularly in cases when the patient has committed a crime. There are other psychiatric disorders that need to be ruled-out before considering malingering. Those diagnoses include Conversion Disorder, Factitious Disorder, Hypochondriasis, and Somatization Disorder." What are the signs and symptoms of malingering? "The signs and symptoms include, but are not limited to a person who presents with symptoms that are much greater than their history dictates. For example, a person who slips on a wet floor and sustains a very minor injury begins reporting that they cannot remember their own name or birth date. Psychiatrically, a person may report having unusual delusions or hallucinations that are inconsistent with individuals with true psychosis. Other indicators include a non-psychotic rational motive for a crime, current offense fits a prior pattern, absence of active symptoms during the crime, report of an irresistible impulse to commit a crime, or a far-fetched story of psychosis." What type of impact does malingering have on a person's life? "The person who is malingering is thought to be reacting to a situation in one of three ways. First, a person may have an underlying personality in which they feel the need to fabricate information in order to obtain attention or a need to be seen as deficient, but for a reason in which they gain something. A criminological underpinning may be that the individual is simply trying to avoid going to jail or having to pay a fine if determined not to have a mental illness. The individual is usually seen as a person with an antisocial personality who is motivated in order to avoid punishment for a crime they committed." "Lastly, a person may have an adaptational underpinning in which they are simply trying to make the best of a highly adversarial situation in which the person sees no other solution but to feign symptoms. The impact can be detrimental if a person is diagnosed as malingering. In the case of US v. Greer (1998) the court found that malingering constitutes obstruction of justice. In this case the defendant received a two-level sentence enhancement; indicating he received more of a sentence for attempting to fool the court. In civil cases a person attempts to malinger in order to win a settlement and receive money." What type of help is available for someone who has a malingering? "In forensic populations, the individual is not always made aware that they have been found to be malingering. Usually the treatment team decides on whether or not to inform the patient depending on what reaction is expected." What advice would you like to leave for someone who has malingering? ""Stop exaggerating or making up symptoms." The tests used to determine malingering are valid and reliable enough to withstand the Daubert standard for admissibility in court." Thank you Dr. Tony Fletcher for the interview. If you would like more information about Dr. Tony Fletcher check out his website at www.drtonyfletcher.com. |
Image of injury lawyers in chicago
injury lawyers in chicago Image 1
injury lawyers in chicago Image 2
injury lawyers in chicago Image 3
injury lawyers in chicago Image 4
injury lawyers in chicago Image 5
Related blog with injury lawyers in chicago
Related Video with injury lawyers in chicago
injury lawyers in chicago Video 1
injury lawyers in chicago Video 2
injury lawyers in chicago Video 3
injury lawyers in chicago
Labels: Accident Attorney Chicago, Brain Injury Lawyer Chicago, Chicago Injury Attorneys, Injury Lawyers in Illinois, Personal Injury Attorneys Chicago IL, Personal Injury Lawyer Chicago, Personal Injury Lawyer in Chicago, Top Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys






0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home