Should Psychiatrists and Psychologists Comment on The Mental Health of People They Have Never Examined?

Insurance companies deny and terminate claims based upon the opinions of psychiatrists and psychologists who assess patients without ever meeting them. These “hired guns,” many of whom are financially dependent on the insurance industry, review the paper file and issue conclusions to support the insurance company’s decision to deny benefits. This issue is salient because of the current coverage of psychiatrists and psychologists making comment about the mental health of President Trump’s behavior.