Therapeutic Jurisprudence in Involuntary Commitments Procedures: HMS Program in Psychiatry and Law

PIPATL: Harvard Medical School Program in Psychiatry and the Law

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Presenter: Dr. Oren Asman, LL.D.

Title: Therapeutic Jurisprudence in Involuntary Commitment Legal procedures in Israel

Details: The Israeli Law for the Treatment of the Mentally ill authorizes the District Psychiatric Committee to discuss involuntary psychiatric hospitalization and treatment both in Civil and Criminal psychiatric commitment. Based on several years chairing such committees, the presenter will share his concept of Therapeutic Jurisprudence (TJ) as it applies to the committees’ work, stating that a balanced application of TJ in these regards may serve to increase patients’ sense of liberty and independence, to promote the process of “rehabilitating autonomy”, and increase the patient’s personal interest in their treatment and rehabilitation process. All these, to respect the patient’s dignity and with the hope to reduce the “revolving door” phenomena.