A study regarding the way and effects of collaboration between medical practitioners and lawyers in hospitalization for assessment of the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07516
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52030:Psychiatry-related
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Shiina Akihiro 千葉大学, 社会精神保健教育研究センター, 特任教授 (70436434)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 鑑定入院 / 医療観察法 / 付添人 / 司法精神医学 / 横断研究 / 連携

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed to clarify the role of attending lawyers of the subjects of the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act in the term of hospitalization for assessment. We sent a series of questionnaire to 1,116 lawyer's office, to recieve 61 answers of whom with experiences of attending work in the initial court decision. Of hte respondents, 57.4% acknowledged challenges in collaborating with other organizations, while 27.9% raised concern about the adequacy of medical care provided to the subjects. Conversely, 24.6% experienced actural collaboration with other organizations. In summery, many lawyers recognized ssignificant obstacles in inter-organizational cooperation, and expressed doubts about the sufficiency of medical care during hospitalization for assessment. Our findings highlight the need for more effective collaboration among people committing this scheme.

Free Research Field

司法精神医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は制度施行後未だ20年を経ていない医療観察法制度においても最も成果検証が進んでいないとされる鑑定入院制度に関する研究である。その対象は付添人弁護士であり、これまで医学研究ではほとんど取り扱われてこなかった領域といえる。本研究の成果により、医療者と非医療者との連携の必要性が客観的に示された。これにより、医療観察法制度をより円滑かつ効果的に運用するための道筋が見えたことは大きな成果といえる。また、弁護士が司法精神医療において果たすべき役割の明確化に寄与したことも本研究の成果である。