SMU | YPH SCHOOL OF LAW | 2026
SEMINAR 3
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND REPORTS
Seminar synopsis
Oops we were a little too ambitious with our readings and content when planning for last week's class. Since we only managed to work our way through an introductory peek into mental disorders, seminar two's readings on diagnosis and psych reports will carry over into seminar 3. No new readings beyond what was prescribed. The reading list is reproduced below for your convenience.
In seminar 3, we explore forensic mental health assessment and expert evidence given by mental health professionals. In particular, we will discuss the following:
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The methods and tools by which clinicians assess and diagnose mental disorders.
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The structure and format of psychological/psychiatric reports, as used in the Singapore courts.
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Treatment and analysis by our judiciary of expert evidence from mental health professionals.
Case law ahead, so that'll hopefully place the bulk of you law students back into your comfort zone. To fully appreciate the case readings, you may also wish to refresh your memory on criminal law concepts such as unsoundness of mind, the M'Naughten Rule, and diminished responsibility.
Readings
Go through these materials with the accompany questions/comments (in brown, italicised text) in mind.
Hyperlinks are provided where possible. Otherwise, cases can be found on Lawnet (accessible through the library's Law Research Navigator)
American Psychiatric Association, Practice Guideline for the Psychiatric Evaluation of Adults 2nd Ed, (APA, 2006)
Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, (APA, 2013) (pay particular attention to Guidelines 9 and 10; glance through the rest)
What, to a mental health professional, constitutes sound assessment practice? What should the assessor look out for? Who should she speak to? What tools may she use? What questions should she ask?
Sample psychiatric reports (1 to 6) (available on eLearn)
For whose benefit is/are psychiatric/psychological reports prepared? What are the features of a psychiatric report that render it understandable and useful to its intended audience? Do these reports meet the standards espoused by the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology? What, if any, can be improved/added to these reports to make them more reliable?
Kanagaratnam Nicholas Jens v Public Prosecutor [2019] 5 SLR 887
Ong Pang Siew v Public Prosecutor [2011] 1 SLR 606
Teh Thiam Huat v Public Prosecutor [1996] 3 SLR(R) 234
When will a Singapore court be satisfied that a psychiatric/psychological evaluation of an accused person was carried out in a robust and credible manner? What does the court look out for?
Iskandar bin Rahmat v Public Prosecutor and other matters [2017] 1 SLR 505
Can a psychiatric report prepared long after an offender commits the crime in question be adduced as evidence? How would you describe the thought/analytical process that the court in this case used to evaluate the opposing expert psychiatric evidence from both the prosecution and the defence?
PP v Juminem and another [2005] 4 SLR(R) 536
How would you describe the thought/analytical process that the court in this case used to evaluate the opposing expert psychiatric evidence from both the prosecution and the defence?
Pathip Selvan s/o Sugumaran v Public Prosecutor [2012] 4 SLR 453
The accused person in this case was diagnosed with a mental disorder. How did the court treat such a diagnosis?
Rahimah Bte Mohd Salim v PP [2016] SGHC 219
Are psychiatric reports protected from disclosure by the doctrine of litigation privilege?
Post-seminar-2 homework
This purpose of this assignment is to help you recap and apply what we learned in Seminar 2 about mental disorders. At the expense of repetition, I will say that homework is also NOT mandatory. Also, homework need not be submitted in a fancy manner, not do you need to write in perfect prose. Point form is fine; all I wish to see in your work is constructive engagement with the course material and a decent level of thought and effort.
The assignment question and instructions (bearing the filename "Seminar 2 - Post-seminar Homework 2026" can be downloaded from eLearn, under Session 2.