RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Psychiatric Genetic Data of Children in Proceedings to Terminate Parental Rights
JF Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
JO J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
FD American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
SP 166
OP 178
DO 10.29158/JAAPL.200066-20
VO 49
IS 2
A1 Maya Sabatello
A1 Beverly J. Insel
A1 Bruce G. Link
A1 Jo C. Phelan
A1 Paul S. Appelbaum
YR 2021
UL http://jaapl.org/content/49/2/166.abstract
AB The introduction of psychiatric genetic evidence in court proceedings to terminate parental rights raises concerns that such information will result in misconceived assumptions about the child's mental health trajectory and unjust rulings on termination of parental rights. We conducted an online vignette-based survey with a nationally representative sample of adults from the general public (n = 300 respondents) to assess their views on how evidence about a child's psychiatric genetic makeup may affect key decisions in termination proceedings. Our findings indicate that genetic evidence increased the child's labeling as having a psychiatric disorder, regardless of the presence of symptoms, treatment recommendations, evaluation of prescription medication, and beliefs in treatment efficacy. Genetic evidence alone did not affect whether participants would terminate parental rights, but participants who thought that the child did not have a psychiatric disorder were more likely to terminate in the presence of genetic test results. We conclude that psychiatric genetic evidence in termination proceedings may have unintended consequences, and that measures should be taken to ensure that it does not unfairly affect outcomes.