Ethical Issues in Mental Health

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

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2. Part One

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. User power

      • David Brandon

      Pages 3-12

   3. The nature of morality

      • Tony Ellis

      Pages 13-26

   4. Ideological themes in mental health nursing

      • Liam Clarke

      Pages 27-44

3. Part Two

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 45-45

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   2. Psychiatry: on its best behaviour

      • Ian Stewart

      Pages 47-67

   3. Ethical issues in work with older people

      • Christine Barrowclough, Ian Fleming

      Pages 68-83

   4. Working with people with a mental handicap

      • Philip Darbyshire

      Pages 84-99

4. Part Three

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 101-101

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   2. Autonomy and mental health

      • Jaqueline Atkinson

      Pages 103-126

   3. The consequences of service planning in mental health nursing

      • Martin Ward

      Pages 127-147

   4. Ethics and clinical practice: a behavioural analysis

      • Chris Cullen

      Pages 148-160

   5. Change not adjustment: the ethics of psychotherapy

      • Phil Barker, Steve Baldwin

      Pages 161-178

5. Part Four

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 179-179

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   2. Putting the service to rights

      • Steve Baldwin, Phil Barker

      Pages 181-197

   3. In search of ethical parameters

      • Phil Barker, Steve Baldwin

      Pages 198-201

6. Back Matter

   Pages 202-205

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Why write another book on ethics? As practitioners we are involved both in the design and delivery of services to people with mental health problems. In common with all other professionals, our work has led to the experience of ethical dilemmas: typically, these have involved major confrontations, either with our col­ leagues or our consciences. This book, however, is not limited to a discussion of such major themes. Rather, we have tried to use a broader canvas: ethics, in our view, is really about the judgement of right and wrong in ordinary, everyday life. Ethics are highly personal: we fashion our own personal code from our experi­ ence of others, and from the 'tests' which bring meaning to our lives. Such experiences shape our individual values. We bring these codes and values to our work. We are not always aware of their influence in our dealings with people. Although we may not always be aware of it, all our actions pose an ethical question. Given that our work involves us in helping others to live ordinary, satisfying lives, this challenge heightens the intensity of our ethical dilemmas. This is most evident where our personal code conflicts with the implicit code of the health setting.

• autonomy
• health
• psychiatry
• psychotherapy

• Mental Health Unit, Tayside Health Board, University of Dundee, UK

  Philip J. Barker

• Visiting Research Fellow, Polytechnic South West, Plymouth, UK

  Steve Baldwin

Policies and ethics