LAW VS PSYCHIATRY: A PIVOTAL DISCOURSE IN FRAMING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY

Abstract

Understanding human behaviour in the context of psychiatry and law can be complex, as both fields have contrasting views about the complexities of human conduct. However, when it comes to the criminal justice system, the differences between these two disciplines become more pronounced. The intersection between law and psychiatry in determining criminal responsibility is a complex and ever-evolving area. Both fields play a crucial role in determining an individual's culpability for illegal actions, but they approach the issue from different perspectives.

This paper attempts to analyse the criminal responsibility of medical and legal approaches during a trial. It emphasises the need to balance concepts, theories, and interrelations. The paper highlights cases from India to demonstrate that, unlike a compartmentalised approach, an interdisciplinary approach is critical in establishing criminal responsibility when dealing with human beings, whether they are sane or insane.

Keywords: Law, psychiatry, criminal responsibility, criminal behaviour, trial