Citation

Weiss KJ. Am. J. Forensic Psychol. 2019; 37(1): 65-78.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American College of Forensic Psychology)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

What do psychiatrists really know about loss and adaptation? A recent U.S. District Court ruling took on the question ofhedonic loss in a case of a young man who committed suicide in jail. Amid the various opinions was the reiteration of a principle in New Jersey law, that the determination of loss of life's pleasure was not related to the ability of the individual to perceive pleasure. Thus, in this case, the decedent could be entitled to hedonic damages during the interval between the discovery of the hanging and the death seven hours later. This article explores the theories ofhedonic damages, the use of expert testimony in calculating them, and the differences between hedonic loss and pain and suffering. While the quantification of damages is the role of the forensic economist, the mental health expert can identify, characterize, and explain the underlying mental states. © 2019 American Journal of Forensic Psychology.

Language: en

Keywords

United States; human; mental health; Review; adaptation; forensic psychiatry; psychiatrist; malpractice; expert witness; court; consciousness; mental health care personnel; wrongful death; metaphysics; psychological well-being