Many pundits have publicly questioned the mental fitness of President Donald Trump, though the APA discourages analyzing a person outside of a professional setting because it undermines the credibility of the field.
“Armchair psychiatry” is a dangerous and unprofessional use of a psychiatrist’s training, APA leaders said. They argue that this misuse is unethical, particularly when utilized for partisan political purposes.
APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, said a psychiatric evaluation requires more than simply analyzing someone’s appearances on television, and he emphasized the formal, medical nature of psychiatry.
“The Goldwater Rule embodies these concepts and makes it unethical for a psychiatrist to render a professional opinion to the media about a public figure unless the psychiatrist has examined the person and has proper authorization to provide the statement,” Dr. Levin said in a press release. “APA stands behind this rule.”
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