‘Enormous demands’

CONSULTANT forensic psychiatrist Dr Myo Kyaw Oo, who has served the correctional services for over two decades, has highlighted the “enormous demands” facing the skeleton crew of psychiatric experts who have been saddled with furnishing hundreds of reports ordered by various courts islandwide for individuals in conflict with the law who appear to be mentally challenged.

Speaking at a recent mental health symposium hosted by the St Mary Parish Court, Dr Oo said with the influx of orders for fitness to plea, fitness to stand trial and fitness to be sentenced assessments, detailed psychiatric reports or comprehensive forensic psychiatric reports, “the role of forensic psychiatry and forensic psychiatrists, forensic psychologists and clinical psychologists become very significant in the legal matters of hearing, conviction, sentencing, disposal and acquittals”.

According to Dr Oo, the skeletal staff has its hands full contending with existing and incoming cases.