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Fitness For Duty Evaluation

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Fitness For Duty Evaluation
APP Final Project HargroveH

App Final Project HargroveH
Fitness For Duty Evaluation

Abstract The fitness-for-duty evaluation is an assessment of a police officer 's psychological ability to securely and effectively perform their job. Officers may be referred or mandated when an officer experiences a work-related injury but is usually in response to questions about an officer’s ability to perform his duty because of psychological factors. The nature of fitness-for-duty evaluations is different from other psychological services in that they involve a mandatory referral to the psychologist and fitness information is communicated to the department. Thus, specific issues of psychologist training and knowledge are crucial.

Fitness for duty evaluation
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According to Edgerton and Campbell (1994, p, 103) iatrogenic harm is “that which is inadvertently precipitated, aggravated, or induced by the physician’s attitude, examination, comments or treatment.” Forensic psychologists are required to “ensure that their services and the products of their services are used in a forthright and responsible manner” (Stone & Shear, 1988, p. 54) The psychologist’s role in the pre-employment and fitness for duty evaluations are only as good as the psychologist’s training, skills, and knowledge. Furthermore, many ethical and legal aspects are involved in the police psychologist’s competence. Lastly, the psychologist must obtain a comprehensive education, receive appropriate training, and adhere to specific standards. The police psychologist must be prepared for the challenges of dealing with numerous issues that will arise in dealing with an agency that is not sensitive to the professional concerns of a psychologist such as confidentiality. The psychologist must learn to form a professional identity in this trying environment as well as abide by to standards of conduct in spite of pressures.

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