Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Adults ― Ethical and Legal Perspectives: an Overview on Fasd for Professionals

This book discusses and provides insight on the legal and ethical dilemmas of managing those with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This book provides a clear perspective for those clinicians and legal professionals who are working with those with this disorder, and correspondingly increases their understanding when arranging effective supports for this population. Historically, the primary focus on FASD has been on children. However, this is a lifelong disorder and the implications of this disorder become even more prominent and complex in adulthood. Those with this condition can struggle with impulsiveness, and a host of cognitive difficulties. This correspondingly impacts their independence and employability, and produces an elevated risk for homelessness and other residential issues, involvement in substance use, being exploited, development of behavioural issues, and subsequent legal difficulties. Their cognitive difficulties result in challenges for legal systems around the world to understand their issues, and to design appropriate remedial strategies, recommendations for treatments and supports, and even for understanding the failure of many of these individuals to be able to change their behaviours effectively. This produces various legal and ethical dilemmas, which are discussed in detail in this volume by 28 authors from Europe, New Zealand and North America. These include discussions regarding the rights of the unborn child, the alcohol industry’s duty to warn, whether small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can be condoned, and even the current use of involuntary hospitalization for addicted mothers. Other chapters discuss the need for training on FASD for front line officers, use of lies during interrogation of those with FASD, medical and legal interventions for offenders with FASD, access to diagnostic services and follow-up supports, and whether FASD can be considered a mitigating factor for sentencing. Furthermore, caregivers also provide their stories regarding the daily dilemmas that are faced in raising those with FASD.

Monty Nelson, PhD, has been a psychologist in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada since 1998. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta. He is in full-time private practice conducting neuropsychological assessments in Edmonton, rural Alberta, and the northern territories. He has been a consultant for various adult FASD clinics since 2008. In collaboration with the Lakeland Centre for FASD he does training for other clinicians about the FASD diagnostic process. He has presented at provincial, national, and international conferences on assessments of adults with FASD.

The Hon. Marguerite Trussler, B.A., LL.B., LL.M., LL.D. (Hon.), Q.C. was a justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench for 20 years. Following her retirement she became the chair of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission where she developed an interest in the issues surrounding FASD. For a number of years, she chaired the Institute of Health Economics’ steering committee for the Alberta initiatives on FASD and was the moderator of the Institute’s 2013 consensus conference on Legal Issues of FASD. Since May of 2014, she has been the Ethics Commissioner for the Legislature of the Province of Alberta, Canada.