Citation

Edwards SD, Hewitt J. Nurs. Ethics 2011; 18(1): 79-87.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0969733010386166

PMID

21285199

Abstract

It was reported in 2006 that a regime of 'supervised self harm' had been implemented at St George's Hospital, Stafford. This involves patients with a history of self-harming behaviour being offered both emotional and practical support to enable them to do so. This support can extend to the provision of knives or razors to enable them to self-harm while they are being supervised by a nurse. This article discusses, and evaluates from an ethical perspective, three competing responses to self-harming behaviours: to prevent it; to allow it; and to make provision for supervised self-harm. It is argued that of these three options the prevention strategy is the least plausible. A tentative conclusion is offered in support of supervised self-harm.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Self-Injurious Behavior; United Kingdom; Nurse-Patient Relations; Psychiatric Nursing; Ethics, Nursing; Nurse's Role; Nursing Assessment