Forensic Psychiatry

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mydoctormd

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How much do forensic psychiatrists make,

What is there work like,

Are they salaried or Paid hrly

is it a good choice within psychiatry

Any help experience or insite would be much apreciated

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The vast majority of forensic-fellowship trained psychiatrists work in correctional settings (either as employees or independent contractors), and some of them attempt to develop a forensic consulting private practice on the side (for expert witness type testimony, or consulting on capacity issues, disability issues, custody issues, malpractice issues, and other forensic psych/legal interface issues, for either individuals or for organizations).

Correctional settings are pretty tough. The pathology is, I guess, interesting. The $$$, if you are an employee of a county or state (in a correctional setting) is less than one would make in pure private practice, but the $$$ made OUTSIDE the correctional setting, as a a forensic psych. consultant, is theoretically much better than regular private practice general psych. reimbursement. Obviously, for your forensic consulting private practice to suceed and become profitable, and self-sustaining, you have to have a good business sense, learn to network with the other major players of the legal system (lawyers), and have a specific interest and aptitude in such business and legal matters.

Some interesting books to read are:

Dr. T. Gutheil's: The Psychiatrist as Expert Witness,
The Psychiatrist in Court, and
Clinical Handbook of Psychiatry and the Law.

Here's a link to the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

http://www.emory.edu/AAPL/
 
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