Is it legal to be crazy: an ethical dilemma

The legal versus ethical rights of behavioral health patients have long complicated inpatient treatment plans and challenged the creative thinking skills of behavioral health nurses. This article examines the practical ethics of involuntary treatment with focus on the principles of respect, individual autonomy, and the right for self-determination. Through an examination of an actual case in Florida, this discussion highlights the ethical dilemma of treating an involuntary patient versus releasing a potentially dangerous individual back into society. Practical solutions to this ethical dilemma are offered.