Culture, law and psychiatry in Hawaii.
Hawaii is a set of islands with a broad mix of cultures. The law is American, but it was predominantly derived from English Common Law. Thus, the law is derived from a very distant culture. Theoretically, this 'transplanted' law could cause difficulties for people from Pacific cultures. Indeed, it appears to create difficulties for individuals with mental illness. A substantial number of these people are arrested for disobedience of a law that is not sensible for their culture. This problem is an example of the need for cultural knowledge when a psychiatrist conducts an examination for the legal system. An individual may appear legally guilty or medically insane when acting within cultural norms.
Schultz-Ross
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University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and Hawaii State Hospital, Kaneohe 96744, USA.
Jenkins
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D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense; D012945:Social Values