WILLIAM H. REID, MD, MPH is a forensic and clinical psychiatrist from Horseshoe Bay, Texas, and a past president of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. He maintains an educational website, Psychiatry and Law Updates, at www.reidpsychiatry.com. His most recent book is Handbook of Mental Health Administration and Management (edited with Stuart B. Silver, M.D.), New York: Brunner-Routledge, 2003. This column contains general information which should not be construed as applying to any specific case, nor as any form of legal advice.

Call for Forensic Topics.I want to make this column as interesting and useful to readers as possible. Please send suggestions for future column topics to P.O. Box 4015, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657, or e-mail them to reidw@reidpsychiatry.com.