S02.02 - Ethical dilemmas in assessment and treatment of asylum seekers in Denmark

Abstract

The challenges of providing mental health care to a culturally diverse patient population include having sufficient knowledge about cross-cultural issues in generally and especially knowledge about cultural background of the specified ethnic groups. Asylum seekers are certainly individuals with specific needs that are combination of potential traumatic experiences, current political situation in home country and asylum policy in third country where they seek the asylum. Language barriers, a mistrust of authority, and fears about confidentiality are well documented obstacles to the effective care of asylum seekers. Therefore, the language abilities and cross-cultural background of the therapist are not negligible. Current assessment and/treatment of asylum seekers in Denmark raises several controversial but important ethical dilemmas:

Sufficiency and satisfaction by the assessment and/or treatment provided via interpreters seen by the patient and the therapist

The impact of psychiatric statement on the process of asylum determination (used and/or abused by authorities and asylum seekers)

This paper describes clinical cases related to mentioned issues and give potential useful hints for future development within assessment and/or treatment of asylum seekers.