RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Commentary: Facts and Values in Competency Assessment
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 352
OP 353
VO 36
IS 3
A1 Buchanan, Alec
YR 2008
UL http://jaapl.org/content/36/3/352.abstract
AB Dr. Mossman's article cogently describes an approach to measuring the accuracy of competency-to-stand-trial assessments in the presence of a gold standard. I argue that a gold standard may not exist. A conclusion as to whether a defendant is fit to proceed requires a trade-off between a range of desired ends. This trade-off is inevitably influenced by the values of the examiner.