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Hurly-burly of psychiatric ethics
Julian C Hughes1, K W M Fulford
1Ash Court, North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, UK. j.c.hughes@ncl.ac.uk
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|December 14, 2005
Summary
This special issue explores psychiatric ethics, highlighting its deep philosophical connections and real-world value conflicts. Psychiatric ethics offers a model for practical ethics, addressing dilemmas in patient care.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Philosophy
- Bioethics
Background:
- Psychiatric ethics is a developing field with unique characteristics.
- The discipline intersects deeply with philosophical concepts, such as the nature of personhood.
- It grapples with diverse and often conflicting values inherent in clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a special issue on ethics in psychiatry.
- To contextualize the subsequent papers within the broader landscape of psychiatric ethics.
- To highlight the interdisciplinary nature and practical relevance of psychiatric ethics.
Main Methods:
- Introduction and contextualization of various papers within the special issue.
- Exploration of the connection between psychiatric ethics and philosophical concepts like personhood.
- Introduction of the concept of values-based medicine as a framework for ethical dilemmas.
Main Results:
- Psychiatric ethics demonstrates a tendency to explore profound philosophical questions.
- The field engages with real-world complexities, revealing diverse and conflicting values.
- Values-based medicine is presented as a theoretical and practical approach to ethical challenges.
Conclusions:
- Psychiatric ethics offers a paradigm for practical ethics due to its depth and real-world applicability.
- The discipline requires deep, clear, and coherent thinking.
- Engagement with patients, users, and carers is crucial for addressing ethical dilemmas in psychiatry.