Scott Alexander examines the problematic nature of emotional support animal letters, highlighting the ethical dilemmas for psychiatrists and the system's shortcomings. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the issue of emotional support animal letters, highlighting the challenges and ethical dilemmas faced by psychiatrists when asked to provide these letters. He explains the legal requirements, the lack of clear evaluation criteria, and the pressure on mental health professionals to approve these requests. The post explores various scenarios and potential responses, ultimately pointing out that the current system creates a form of gatekeeping that favors those who can navigate the process, resulting in a disguised class system. Shorter summary