The Goldwater Rule and Psychiatric Ethics

This chapter explores the fallout from a contentious survey by Fact Magazine that led to significant defamation claims involving Senator Goldwater and the American Psychiatric Association (APA). It examines the complexities of the Goldwater Rule, which prohibits psychiatrists from diagnosing public figures without consent, while highlighting ethical implications and the challenges of proving malicious intent in defamation cases. The discussion emphasizes the critical role of comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and the professional responsibility psychiatrists have in balancing public discourse with ethical considerations.