Expert coverage deals with civil commitment, as well as hearings to determine fitness for trial or execution. Examines criminal defenses and sentencing as they relate to the mental capacity of defendants. Overviews categories of mental health professionals, including the scope of their work, liscensing, and discipline. Discusses the major psychiatric disorders. Clinical psychiatric evidence is examined, including a review of admissibility of evidence, qualifying experts, and establishing a basis for clinical opinion. Medical malpractice and negligence are also examined.

Mental illness and intellectual disability (formerly called mental retardation) impact 20% of Americans, and have enormous personal, legal, and policy implications for patients, families, and society. This Nutshell introduces you to the broad range of criminal and civil issues in mental health law, including diagnosis of mental illness; expert testimony on mental health issues; civil commitment; competence to stand trial; the insanity defense; various competencies; ethical/legal issues facing mental health professionals, including informed consent, confidentiality, privilege, and malpractice; discrimination against persons with mental illness; financial and medical benefits for disabled persons.

This comprehensive casebook covers all areas of civil commitment law, institutional rights law, community rights law, sex offenders law, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mental Disability Law also explores all aspects of the criminal process, including all criminal competencies, the insanity defense, trial practice issues, sentencing and the death penalty. It is the only casebook available that considers the important factors that have shaped mental disability law -- sanism, pretextuality, heuristics and false "ordinary common sense." The third edition includes expanded new sections on therapeutic jurisprudence and international human rights law.

This Nutshell presents an overview of the major federal disability laws with emphasis on the statutes, regulations, and significant points of substantive and procedural law. The second edition includes significant focus on the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Features coverage on constitutional rights; the definition of "disabled"; Rehabilitation Act of 1973; employment discrimination; programs and services; and housing, education, and transportation. Also reviews the many relevant areas of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Examining the mistreatment of persons with mental disabilities around the world, Michael Perlin identifies universal factors that contaminate mental disability law, including lack of comprehensive legislation and of independent counsel; inadequate care; poor or nonexistent community programming; and inhumane forensic systems.