ABSTRACT
A common reason for requesting a psychiatric report is for a compensation case involving either medical negligence or employer’s negligence, injury or accident. In criminal cases the courts may ask for a psychiatric assessment before sentencing, or a defence lawyer may be seeking mitigation of his client’s offence. In cases of violent crime in particular, an assessment of risk may be required. Other situations calling for a psychiatric report include doubts about fitness to plead or to be a competent witness or competence to make decisions, for instance about finances or making a will.
