Forensic psychiatry in the colonial and post colonial eras

In this chapter, the concepts of common and statue laws are reviewed with respect to their application and the duties of the psychiatrist. The history, development and practice of forensic psychiatry in the colonial period in Trinidad are explored and later following independence during the establishment of a Mental Health Act and the introduction of the Sectorization Plan in 1975. Three case histories are presented: the first investigates liability in a mentally ill offender, the second is a court report intended to assess mental illness in a man charged with murder and the third examines the role of the Psychiatric Tribunal in discharge from prison following illegal detention. Defenses available for these individuals are briefly discussed. Despite a PAHO's expert finding of human abuse in the Forensic system in Trinidad, the assessment of mentally ill offenders in developing countries with different social and cultural imperatives is no easy task.

Actos homicidas en pacientes internados en el Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Gregorio Pacheco" 1985 - 1994 / Homicide actions of inpatient ot the National Psyquiatric Institute \"Gregorio Pacheco\" 1985-1994

El presente trabajo los autores hacemos conocer la gran importancia de la Psiquiatria Forense y la relación estrecha o mutua con la ley. Por los antecedentes de homicidio existentes en pacientes con patologia psiquiatrica; se efectuó un estudio estadistico de 2.265 ingresos en el Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria "Gregorio Pacheco", de la ciudad de Sucre, año 1.985 a 1.994. Los resultados son: 26 ( 1.15 porciento) pacientes con anteedentes homicidas o lesiones leves a gravisimas; correspondiendo 17 al sexo masculino y 9 al femenino. En ninguno de los casos remitidos por orden judial, se realizó peritaje psiquiátrico. Se recomienda la creación de un Centro Penitenciario Especializado para la atención adecuada.