Publications

Psychiatry postgraduate training in India faces a critical gap in preparing trainees for legal responsibilities, despite their roles as both clinicians and legal experts. This narrative review examines the need for structured legal education in psychiatry, focusing on forensic psychiatry, the Mental Healthcare Act 2017, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and workplace issues like fitness-to-work assessments. Drawing on global and Indian literature, we explore pedagogical approaches – such as problem-based learning, simulations, and role-playing – to foster competencies in legal and ethical practice. We address challenges, including resource constraints, and propose a curriculum framework for educators and policymakers to integrate legal training. This framework aims to standardize training and enhance patient outcomes by equipping trainees for ethical, legally sound practice.