معرفی
Elyn Saks is the Orrin B. Evans Distinguished Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at USC Gould School of Law. She directs the Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy, and Ethics and holds adjunct appointments at UC San Diego School of Medicine and the New Center for Psychoanalysis.
Her research examines critical issues at the intersection of law and mental health, including:
- Ethical dimensions of psychiatric research
- Legal frameworks for forced treatment
- Decisional capacity assessments
- Rights of mentally ill patients
- Mental health policy reform
Professor Saks has published extensively on competency determinations, refusal of care, and informed consent frameworks. Her scholarly work combines legal analysis with psychiatric perspectives, consistently advocating for patient autonomy while balancing clinical needs. Her publications demonstrate deep engagement with ethical dilemmas in mental health treatment and research.
Major honors include:
- MacArthur 'Genius' Fellowship (2009)
- Associate's Award for Creativity in Research
- Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Recognition Award
She established the Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy, and Ethics at USC using MacArthur grant funds, creating an interdisciplinary research hub that involves scholars from law, psychiatry, psychology, social work, philosophy, neuroscience, gerontology, and engineering.
