Depression and competence to refuse psychiatric treatment

ETHICS, LAW, AND MEDICINE Depression and competence to refuse psychiatric treatment

Individuals with major depression may benefit from psychiatric treatment, yet they may refuse such treatment, sometimes because of their depression. Hence the question is raised whether such individuals are competent to refuse psychiatric treatment. The standard notion of competence to consent to treatment, which refers to expression of choice, understanding of medical information, appreciation...

Personality disorder and competence to refuse treatment.

The traditional view that having a personality disorder, unlike other mental disorders, is not usually reason enough to consider a person incompetent to make healthcare decisions is challenged. The example of a case in which a woman was treated for a physical disorder without her consent illustrates that personality disorder can render a person incompetent to refuse essential treatment, particu...

Suicidal competence and the patient's right to refuse lifesaving treatment.

The right to refuse psychiatric treatment: a clinical perspective.

Within recent years, psychiatrists and lawyers have increasingly debated the right of psychiatric patients to refuse treatment. Predictably, the right has advocates as well as opponents who, although often uninformed, are still adamant. Just last year the Academy was admonished that a right to refuse psychiatric treatment was "one right too many,". since it would be "antithetical" to the right ...

The right to refuse treatment.