Citation

Taborda JGV, Abdalla-Filho E. Curr. Opin. Psychiatry 2002; 15(6): 599-603.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/00001504-200211000-00007

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

PURPOSE of review: After describing the main ethical problems in the field of forensic psychiatry, articles published from May 2001 to the present are reviewed. Forensic psychiatry is a fertile ground in which ethical and legal problems exist, and to be updated with these issues is a fundamental task for forensic practitioners. Recent findings: This review covers the current discussion on the ethical framework of the specialty, the evolution of the duty to protect, the competence and capacity assessment, the new legislation on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, and the ethical problems of psychiatric research. Summary: It is concluded that more attention should be paid to improvements in the field, as the discussion is still very limited and there have been no major advances. Critical issues, such as the development of the ethical framework in the forensic field and research with prisoners, are in need of development.

Language: en

Keywords

competence; Ethical framework; ethics; Ethics; euthanasia; Euthanasia; forensic psychiatry; Forensic psychiatry; human; medical ethics; medical research; medicolegal aspect; physician; review; suicide; Tarasoff-like warnings