What the Media Get Wrong About the Goldwater Rule

Whenever I read an article about someone diagnosing a person from afar, inevitably the journalist will mention the “Goldwater rule.” This is an ethical guideline created by the American Psychiatric Association in 1973 in reaction to a claim that arose from a magazine article that surveyed psychiatrists about presidential candidate Barry Goldwater’s mental health. Journalists roll this “rule” out to try and explain why mental health professionals shouldn’t make statements about celebrities and politicians in the public eye. Unfortunately, they generalize an ethics rule for one small profession onto the whole of mental health professionals — a rule that is outdated and archaic. The History of the Goldwater Rule The Goldwater Rule’s attack on the 1st Amendment rights of psychiatrists came about because a popular magazine of the day called Fact conducted a survey of 12,356 psychiatrists as an inquiry into presidential candidate Barry Goldwater’s mental health. The survey elicited many strong responses, both for and against his emotional stability and ability to serve as president. The American Psychiatric Association was aghast that many of its members had been the subject of a survey they felt was demeaning and unscientific. And they let it be known: “[S]hould you decide to publish the results of a purported ‘survey’ of psychiatric opinion on the question you have posed, the Association will take all possible measures ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Celebrities Minding the Media Psychiatry Psychology American Psychiatric Association Goldwater Rule psychiatry ethics psychology ethics Source Type: blogs