Ethical issues in patients

access to mental health care

A. R. Tirintica 1,2, A. Mihai 1,2 .

Psychiatry Clinic II Targu Mures

1
2
University of Medicine and Pharmacy Targu Mures

The University Scientific Session, Trgu Mure, December 2014

1963 The Community Mental
Health Act
 Background

No national mental health legislation

in 25% of countries (31% population);
Thus 50% laws in the field were
passed after 1990, but 15% before
1960s;
 Legislation vs. Ethics

-International Covenant on Civil

and Political Rights (art. 7)
-International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights (art. 12)
- Psychiatry and Human Rights
(rec.1235 - 1994)
Ethical issues in patients access to
mental health care
- Inform consent
- Forced treatment
- Unnecessary or involuntary
hospitalization
- Legally competence
- Double loyalty
- Mental health problems in pregnancy
- Conflict of interests
- Euthanasia
 Solutions?
(WHO Mental Health Legislation and Human Rights,
2013)
Research and evaluation of mental health
services
Human resources and training
Workplace mental health policies and
programs
Adapting mental health legislation and
financing
Organization of services for mental health
Conclusion

- In many health care

units, applying the
ethical principles in
everyday practice is
difficult.
- There are ethical
issues in patients
access to mental health
services.
In just about every area of society,
there's nothing more important than
ethics. (Henry Paulson)
 References
1. Everyday ethics in an acute psychiatric unite Journal of
Medical Ethics, V.J. Grant, J. Briscoe, 2002, 28:173-176
2. Mental Health Legislation and Human Rights World Health
Organization, 2003
3. Mental Health Care Law: ten basic principles, World Health
Organization, Geneva, 1996
4. Ethics and culture in mental health care, Ethics & Behavior,
vol. 18, issue 4, 2008
5. Ethical dilemmas in forensic psychiatry: two illustrative cases,
P. Sen, H. Gordon, G. Adshead, A. Irons, J Med Ethics, 2007,
33(6):337-341
6. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Mental_Health_Act
 ralucatirintica@yahoo.com

Thank you!