Professional Background:
Specializing in applications of clinical psychiatry to legal issues in civil and criminal matters at the interface of Psychiatry and the Law.
Has served as an evaluator, consultant or expert witness in over three hundred cases in State and Federal courts.
Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Psychiatry and Law Program at Medical College of Pennsylvania & Hahnemann University.
Professional experiences include serving as a Director of Correctional Mental Health Services for the City of Philadelphia Prison System. Director of Psychiatry & Law Program at the Medical College of Virginia.
M.D. Degree -University of Massachusetts,1992.
Psychiatry Residency & Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship -Tulane University Medical Center,1996.
Over fifty lectures, seminars, workshops and presentations.
Services:
Services provided for Defense, Prosecution, Plaintiff, Courts, Insurance Companies, and Governmental Agencies in areas including: Mental State at the Time of the Offense Evaluations: Insanity Defense / Diminished Capacity and other affirmative defenses
Capital Sentencing & Mitigation.
Sex Offender Evaluations.
Civil & Criminal Competency Evaluations:
Competency to Stand Trial / Competency to Waive Miranda Rights.
Testamentary Capacity / Competency to make a Will.
Testimonial Capacity / Competency to testify as a Witness.
Informed Consent / Competency to consent for treatment, Competency to refuse treatment, etc.
Risk of Violence Assessments.
Suicide Risk Assessment.
Independent Medical Evaluations / Psychiatric Disability.
Personal Injury / Pain & Suffering / Emotional Distress.
Workplace Violence Assessments.
Evaluations under Americans With Disabilities Act.
Discrimination.
Sexual Harassment.
Fitness for Duty.
Psychiatric Malpractice: Failure to obtain information /Failure to appropriately diagnose / Failure to treat / Negligent use of psycho-pharmacological agents or of psychotherapy / Negligent failure to prevent patients from harming themselves or others / Sexual misconduct / Failure to obtain informed consent / Violations of civil rights / False imprisonment / Restraints and Seclusion/ Breach of confidentiality / Abandonment / Negligence in supervision, etc.
Toxic Tort.
Product Liability.
Workers' Compensation.
Assessment of Malingering / Exaggeration of signs and symptoms of mental illness.
Affiliations::
American Medical Association
American Psychiatric Association American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
Armenian Medical Association of Philadelphia
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Association
Philadelphia Psychiatric Society
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
Involved in various professional committees including: American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Directors of Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Programs, Private Practice and International Relationships Committees
American Association of Community Psychiatrists Committee on Persons with Mental Illness Behind Bars
Annual Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference Program Planning Committee.
Professional Cerifications and Licenses::
Diplomate of American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in the specialty of Psychiatry
Diplomate of American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in the subspecialty of Forensic Psychiatry
Diplomate of National Board of Medical Examiners
Licensed to practice medicine in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, California, and Virginia.
Nationwide availability as a Forensic Examiner, Consultant and Expert Witness.
Foreign Languages: Fluent in Russian and Armenian
