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Testimony by Mentally Ill Individuals

Yuval Melamed is Deputy Director, Lev Hasharon Mental Health Center, Netanya, Israel, and Senior Lecturer, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Address correspondence to: Yuval Melamed, MD, MHA, Lev Hasharon Mental Health Center, POB 90000, Netanya 42100, Israel. E-mail: ymelamed{at}post.tau.ac.il

Integration of individuals with mental illness into the community equates their status with that of the general population, and they may be called to give testimony concerning an incident witnessed, or a crime committed that they were not involved in, to admit guilt to a crime, or to testify about a crime in which they were the victim. Four case descriptions are presented: complaints against family, complaints against staff, abuse in treatment, and sexual abuse. The Israeli courts ruled that the testimony of a mentally ill person is admissible; however, the question that arises is the degree of importance that should be attributed to it. In 2005, a law was passed in Israel concerning the investigation and testimonial processes of individuals with intellectual or mental handicaps. Clinicians may sometimes be the link between the patient and the complex legal system; thus, they must be alert and attentive to the patients and advocate for them when necessary.