Laws and Ethics Related to Emotional Support Animals

Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

article

Joshua D. Carroll¹  Brian S. Mohlenhoff²  Charlie M. Kersten³  Dale E. McNiel¹  Renée L. Binder⁴ 

[1] Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco;San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center San Francisco;West Suburban Medical Center;Psychiatry and the Law Program, University of California San Francisco

关键词: emotional support animal(s);    service animal(s);    therapy animal(s);    Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);    Fair Housing Act (FHA);    Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA);   

DOI  :  10.29158/JAAPL.200047-20

学科分类：儿科学

来源: American Academy of Psychiatry The Law

【 摘 要 】

The use of animals for therapeutic benefit is well-established. For example, for individuals with a disability such as blindness, trained service dogs can enhance the ability to live independently and participate fully in society. An emotional support animal (ESA) is an untrained animal that is used to support a person disabled by an emotional or mental disorder. For an animal to qualify as an ESA, a mental health or medical professional needs to write a letter saying that the animal is needed for the mental health of the person with the disability. This article describes the legal framework for service animals and ESAs, as well as the differences between them. We summarize information about the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Air Carrier Access Act, and other laws governing an individual9s right to be accompanied by a support animal. We also summarize the clinical research on ESAs and argue that, although there are few studies on the clinical effectiveness of ESAs, a broader body of research indicates that animals may have positive clinical effects on medical and mental illness. Finally, we suggest there is a need for further research and provider education on ESAs.

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