Retainer Bias: Ethical and Practical Considerations for the Forensic Neuropsychologist.

This article focuses on retainer bias, a form of confirmatory bias in forensic neuropsychology where experts may consciously or unconsciously favor the position of the retaining attorney, potentially compromising impartiality and ethical standards. It discusses how retainer bias arises through various contextual factors such as selective case acceptance, reliance on attorney-supplied summaries, manipulation of test data, and emotional investment in case outcomes. The authors highlight ethical guidelines from the American Psychological Association and Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists that emphasize accuracy, impartiality, and transparency, while illustrating common scenarios where bias risks occur. The paper advocates for debiasing strategies—including independent record review, structured assessments, consideration of alternative hypotheses, and maintaining professional integrity—and calls for empirical research to better understand and mitigate retainer bias in forensic neuropsychological practice.