Ethical challenges in the use of coercion

Abstract

The use of coercive measures remains one of the great challenges in psychiatry.

Increased focus on patient rights and autonomy, concern from user and relatives organizations as well as from human rights organizations all have contributed to that the use of all kinds of coercion is high on the agenda. And yet, we are still faced with that a number of psychiatric patients will experience that coercive measures are used as part of their treatment.

The EPA Ethical Committee carried out a survey comprising the European associations of psychiatry in which a questionnaire was circulated regarding what the different associations found were the major ethical challenges in their respective countries.

Among the issues that have given rise to particular concern are the use of physical restraints including why some countries avoid physical restraints while other – e.g. Denmark – use it extensively. Why do we find such large differences? Is this due to different approaches to coercion, different traditions? Shortage of resources?

Another concern is that certain groups seem more likely to be subject to coercion compared to others. Thus, it has been demonstrated that patients belonging to ethnic minority groups are more likely to experience this.

The paper will focus on ethical problems and issues of concern related to the use of coercion. The focus will be on facets of international relevance with the aim to remain critical towards the use and when needed to strengthen the quality of coercive treatment care. URL: http://www.mariannekastrup.dk

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.