A person is admitted to a hospital after attempting suicide. After a few days of detox the person is moved to the psych ward. The person has had a personal psychiatrist, who now takes over treatment. If the person who attempted suicide is no longer suicidal, has cognitive impairments but is still oriented to person and place, and most importantly does not want a treatment that the psychiatrist wants performed (in this case: Electro-Convulsive Therapy), can the psychiatrist force the person into treatment because the person has been shown to be a threat to oneself?--or according to patient rights can the person still refuse to have ECT as a treatment option?
2007-10-17 13:59:58 · 6 answers · asked by What I Say 3 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Thank you so much for your answers!
2007-10-17 14:11:53 · update #1
In New York City, the hospital would have to go to court to get a order from a judge in order to enact the treatments. Even if the psychiatrist thought that he really needed the treatment she/he can't do it with out the patients consent unless the patient has been declared incompetent to consent to treatment. This is one reason that I have a health care proxy so that if something happens to me I have someone who'll carry out my medical needs the way that I would have had I been able. To be declared incompetent he would have to have been examined by at least two psychiatrists in NY. Since I don't' know what state your in I'm not sure what it will take in your state.
2007-10-17 14:14:40 · answer #1 · answered by Kathryn R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The patient has to be declared "mentally incompetent" then have the courts appoint a legal guardian (which could be a family member or it is a court appointed person) that person then decides what should happen. The psychiatrist is the one to do the evaluation for "competency" and you should ask to see this when you are sitting at the patient's beside so the patient can give you permission to view the results.
2007-10-17 14:04:30 · answer #2 · answered by heavnknowz 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe this requires a court order by a judge--especially if the hospitalized person, or her relatives, believe that the person's rights have been violated.
For more information, contact the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
www.nami.org
2007-10-17 14:06:42 · answer #3 · answered by Angelique 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A clinically depressed patient cannot exercise good judgement.
He is probably thinking about suicide.
If his case is resistant to the usual treatments, and ECT could save him,
then the doctor should try it.
2007-10-17 14:11:36 · answer #4 · answered by Wayne P 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The patient can refuse such treatment. God bless****
2007-10-17 14:03:46 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, they cannot do this without the patient's permission.
2007-10-21 08:08:12 · answer #6 · answered by Simmi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋