PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Anasuya Salem AU - Cecilia Leonard TI - Psychiatric and Clinical Sequelaeof Delirium and Competenceto Stand Trial DP - 2009 Dec 01 TA - Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online PG - 549--551 VI - 37 IP - 4 4099 - http://jaapl.org/content/37/4/549.short 4100 - http://jaapl.org/content/37/4/549.full SO - J Am Acad Psychiatry Law2009 Dec 01; 37 AB - We present the case of a middle-aged defendant who had been incarcerated in a county jail and housed on the mental health unit. It was documented that he had been exhibiting fluctuating levels of alertness and responsiveness. The writers saw him in a forensic capacity, to conduct an evaluation of his competence to stand trial, and recognized that he was having a medical emergency, delirium that was most likely due to brain metastases from inoperable advanced cancer. We recommended an immediate transfer to a medical facility for treatment. The article serves to present an interesting case and to highlight the need for clinical vigilance despite the usual goal of an objective, noninterfering forensic role.