1. Violence risk instruments may be culturally unsafe for use with Indigenous patients.
- Author
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Shepherd, Stephane M.
- Subjects
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HEALTH of indigenous peoples , *MEDICAL decision making , *RISK of violence , *HEALTH risk assessment , *CROSS-cultural psychiatry , *MENTAL health laws , *VIOLENCE & psychology , *FORENSIC psychiatry , *MENTAL illness , *RISK assessment , *TRANSCULTURAL medical care , *MEDICAL care of indigenous peoples - Abstract
Objective: Violence risk assessment assumes a critical medico-legal role addressing offender/patient needs and informing forensic mental health decision making. Yet questions remain over the cross-cultural applicability of such measures. In their current form, violence risk instruments may not reflect the unique life and cultural experiences of Indigenous Australians rendering them culturally unsafe.Conclusions: To realize equitable forensic assessment, it is necessary to ascertain whether there are cultural differences across risk factors for violence and that risk instruments are validated as culturally appropriate. Greater cross-cultural rigour in forensic mental health risk assessment, research and practice is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2016
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