Goldwater rule

The original piece in Fact magazine which prompted the introduction of the Goldwater rule. Likely costing Barry Goldwater a large number of potential votes, this practice was later deemed unethical by the APA.

The Goldwater rule is Section 7 in the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Principles of Medical Ethics,[1] which states that psychiatrists have a responsibility to participate in activities contributing to the improvement of the community and the betterment of public health, but when asked to comment on public figures, they shall refrain from diagnosing, which requires a personal examination and consent.[2] It is named after former U.S. Senator and 1964 Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater.[3][4]

  1. ^ American Psychiatric Association (2013). "The Principles of Medical Ethics with Annotations Especially Applicable to Psychiatry" (PDF) (2013 ed.). Arlington, Virginia: American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  2. ^ "Ethics Reminder Offered About 'Goldwater Rule' on Talking to Media". Psychiatric News. 42 (10): 2–3. May 18, 2007. doi:10.1176/pn.42.10.0002.
  3. ^ Carey, Benedict (August 15, 2016). "The Psychiatric Question: Is It Fair to Analyze Donald Trump from Afar?". The New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  4. ^ Friedman, Richard A. (February 17, 2017). "Is It Time to Call Trump Mentally Ill?". The New York Times. ... psychiatrists can discuss mental health issues with the news media, but that it is unethical for them to diagnose mental illnesses in people they have not examined and whose consent they have not received.