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Child custody evaluations: Fair and unfair professional practices
Author(s) -
Weissman Herbert N.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.2370090409
Subject(s) - mental health , referral , professional responsibility , professional conduct , professional standards , psychology , welfare , law , medicine , psychiatry , political science , nursing , engineering ethics , engineering
Mental health professionals are frequently called upon to conduct psychological evaluations of the adult parties and minor children in contested child custody actions. Whether Court‐appointed or as an agreed examiner, the professional's essential role is that of expert consultant to the court. He or she can only assist the trier of fact by conducting an evaluation that is fair, impartial and objective, that protects the personal and legal rights of all parties, and that is consistent with professional and ethical standards. Ethical principles require the mental health professional to accept the burden of responsibility for protecting and preserving the clients' rights and welfare throughout the evaluation period, from the initial referral to the rendering of recommendations.