© Jim Watson/AFP/Getty ImagesThe American Psychiatric Association warns its members against diagnosing public figures with disorders before actually examining them. In a memo, the APA reminded its members of "The Goldwater Rule," which says it's unethical for psychiatrists to give professional opinions on public figures who haven't been examined first-hand.
The American Psychiatric Association
sent a memo to its members advising them not to diagnose "public figures" with illnesses or certain dispositions without first actually examining them.
What did the memo say?Reaffirming its stance against long-distance diagnosis, the American Psychiatric Association said that "public figures whom they have not examined" should not receive a diagnosis, nor should members of the American Psychiatric Association be making off-the-cuff diagnoses without having the information to back their determination.
"We at the APA call for an end to psychiatrists providing professional opinions in the media about public figures whom they have not examined, whether it be on cable news appearances, books, or in social media," a portion of the statement read.
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Arm-chair psychiatry or the use of psychiatry as a political tool is the misuse of psychiatry and is unacceptable and unethical," the statement continued.
Comment: Aside from Facebook's use as a Big Brother tool, many are beginning to seriously question the social media site's value and impact on society: the latest assessments are not looking good: