PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Susan Hatters Friedman
AU  - Jacob M. Appel
AU  - Peter Ash
AU  - Richard L. Frierson
AU  - Deborah Giorgi-Guarnieri
AU  - Richard Martinez
AU  - Alan W. Newman
AU  - Debra A. Pinals
AU  - Phillip J. Resnick
AU  - Alexander I. F. Simpson
TI  - Unsolicited E-mails to Forensic Psychiatrists
DP  - 2016 Dec 01
TA  - Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
PG  - 470--478
VI  - 44
IP  - 4
4099  - http://jaapl.org/content/44/4/470.short
4100  - http://jaapl.org/content/44/4/470.full
SO  - J Am Acad Psychiatry Law2016 Dec 01; 44
AB  - E-mail communication is pervasive. Since many forensic psychiatrists have their e-mail addresses available online (either on personal websites, university websites, or articles they have authored), they are likely to receive unsolicited e-mails. Although there is an emerging body of literature about exchanging e-mail with patients, there is little guidance about how to respond to e-mails from nonpatients. Therefore, we used a Delphi technique to develop a consensus about salient points for the forensic psychiatrist to consider regarding responding to e-mails from nonpatients and the risks entailed. Four scenarios are described, including e-mails from nonpatients and unknown others requesting advice or help. The potential ethics-related, legal, moral, and practical concerns for forensic psychiatrists are discussed. Finally, potential pitfalls for forensic psychiatrists are described.