APA calls for end to 'arm chair' psychiatry

The American Psychiatric Association, the largest of its kind in the world, is calling for an end for people diagnosing people they don't like in absentia. In other words, they don't approve whatsoever of "arm chair" diagnosing such as we've seen the leftist media do with President Trump.

The APA released a statement earlier this month reaffirming its commitment to "The Goldwater Rule," which says that it's unethical for psychiatrists to diagnose public figures they have not personally examined.

And speaking of personally, I believe psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers who practice this quackery should lose their license and pay a fine.

In the case of Yale University psychiatry professor Dr. Bandy X. Lee, she claimed to have recently met with over a dozen Congress members to discuss the President's mental health, without having met Mr. Trump. Since Dr. Lee has no license to practice psychiatry, the fine should be greater since she has less to lose.

The APA argues that public speculating/diagnosing by psychiatrists "undermines the credibility and integrity of the profession and the physician-patient relationship."

In other words, the APA is hammering home the point that psychiatry is actually a real profession. 

"A proper psychiatric evaluation requires more than a review of television appearances, tweets, and public comments," the statement read. "Psychiatrists are medical doctors; evaluating mental illness is no less thorough than diagnosing diabetes or heart disease [as Sanjay Gupta did without actually meeting with the President]. The standards in our profession require review of medical and psychiatric history and records and a complete examination of mental status. Often collateral information from family members or individuals who know the person well is included, with permission from the patient.

"Using psychiatry for political or self-aggrandizing purposes is stigmatizing for our patients and negatively impacts our profession."

But it looks like Dr. Lee didn't get the message and went ahead anyway. 

Maybe Trump can sue her, as is his wont.



Tweet