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The Declaration of Hawaii and Clarence Blomquist
Insights
The Declaration of Hawaii, an international code of ethics for psychiatry, was primarily developed by Clarence Blomquist. His unique background and collaborative efforts were crucial for its success in modernizing psychiatric ethics.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Medical Ethics
- Philosophy of Medicine
Background:
- The Declaration of Hawaii represents a significant advancement in international psychiatric ethics.
- Its development was influenced by the need to address the misuse of psychiatry and improve global psychiatric care standards.
Abstract:
The international code of ethics of psychiatry, the Declaration of Hawaii was in the main the achievement of Clarence Blomquist. There were several prerequisites for the success of this work. 1. The unique profile of the education of Clarence Blomquist, combining training to be a specialist in psychiatry with a doctor's degree in practical philosophy. 2. An outstanding competence in analyzing complicated issues and in putting thoughts into words. 3. The courage to challenge the Hippocratic ethics and adapt the principles of ethics to modern health care. 4. A scholarship at the Institute of Society, Ethics and the Life Sciences, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, where he could test his ideas in an intellectual interdisciplinary atmosphere. 5. Support from the late Professor Leo Eitinger, Norway and Professor Gerdt Wretmark, Sweden, who together with Clarence Blomquist constituted a task force on ethics of the World Psychiatric Association. 6. A continuous backing-up by Dr Denis Leigh, the then secretary general of the World Psychiatric Association. Denis Leigh was convinced that a code of ethics was the only means to reconcile the various member countries on issues of misuse of psychiatry and, in addition, would raise the quality of psychiatric care throughout the world.