Sanford Finkel, M.D., Expert Consultant –
Geriatric Psychiatry, Contested Wills and Undue Influence
Sanford I. Finkel, M.D.
Dr. Sanford I. Finkel is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Chicago Medical School.
A graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Finkel completed his internship at Wayne County General Hospital and his residency in Psychiatry at Michael Reese Hospital’s Psychosomatic and Psychiatric Institute in Chicago.
An active clinician, Dr. Finkel has received more than nine million dollars in research and training funding in geriatric psychiatry. While his clinical practice concentrates primarily on geriatric psychiatry, he has also been retained as an expert consultant in geriatric psychiatry and has reviewed and testified in a wide variety of cases.
Dr. Finkel has lectured extensively and has contributed over 100 journal articles and book chapters.
He has also played a leadership role in mental health and aging throughout his career. Dr. Finkel founded the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry and co-founded the International Psychogeriatric Association and the American Psychiatric Association Council on Aging. He is the founder of the International Psychogeriatric Association’s Task Force on Testamentary Capacity and Undue Influence.
Dr. Finkel is involved as an expert consultant and witness on contested wills.
Most cases involve testamentary capacity, which can be influenced by dementia, depression, psychosis, medication effects, medical problems, and end of life issues. At the same time, many of these illnesses or conditions in and of themselves do not necessarily mean someone lacks testamentary capacity. He has also been called upon to testify as an expert in “undue influence” cases.