Dutch law and ethics concerning the experimental treatment of early psychosis

Moral and social attitudes towards medical treatment and research rapidly changed during the last four decades of the Twentieth Century. In the Netherlands these changes are reflected in three laws adopted in the 1990s. The Law on Medical Treatment Agreement (Wet Geneeskundige BehandelOvereenkomst, WGBO, 1992) reflects the respect for autonomy and the protection of patient's rights. The Law on Special Admission to Psychiatric Hospitals (Bijzondere Opneming Psychiatrische Ziekenhuizen, BOPZ, 1994) reflects the idea that psychiatric subjects should be entitled to execute their civil rights as long as no danger exists to themselves or others, while the Law on Medical Research (Wet Medisch Onderzoek, WMO 1999), reflects the present moral opinions on bio-medical research. From these laws objections can be derived against the development of treatment and experiments on early psychosis. It will be argued here that these laws can also be taken to stimulate this kind of research. The difference between the two options is related to preconceived moral opinions towards psychosis and schizophrenia.