Psychiatric dilemmas--surgery and the Mental Health Act (1983)

Clinicians commonly face an ethical conundrum when the patient declines a treatment they believe to be necessary. The decision, whether to give or to withhold treatment, may also have legal repercussions. Two illustrative cases are presented. Although the Mental Health Act (1983) is concerned with treatment of mental disorder, treatments for physical disorders may be given in certain circumstances if the patient is deemed to lack the competence to understand the issues involved in the decision, and treatment is deemed to be in their best interests.