Exploring Mental Illness, Autonomy, and Research Ethics

Mental Illness

Condition defined by subjective societal norms.

Szasz's Argument

Claims mental illness lacks objective definition.

Paternalism

Treating patients as incompetent to make decisions.

Autonomy

Respecting patients' rights to make choices.

Diminished Competence

Reduced ability to make informed decisions.

False Dichotomy

Oversimplification between paternalism and autonomy.

Enhanced Autonomy

Model to improve patient decision-making capacity.

Involuntary Commitment

Forcing treatment against a patient's will.

Connor v Davidson Case

Guidelines for involuntary commitment decisions.

Guideline 1

Suffering from mental illness as a criterion.

Guideline 2

Danger to self or others as a criterion.

Guideline 3

Least restrictive environment for treatment.

Washout Periods

Time to eliminate old medication before new.

Rebound Effect

Worsening condition after stopping medication.

Valid Consent

Informed agreement from competent individuals.

Surrogate Consent

Family members making decisions for patients.

Family Illness

Mental illness impacts the entire family unit.

Drug Companies

Pharmaceutical firms influencing medication research.

Skewed Results

Biased outcomes due to external influences.

Patient Autonomy

Respect for individual decision-making rights.

Assisted Suicide

Medical aid in dying under specific conditions.

Joyce Brown Case

Example of mental illness and homelessness intersection.

Marginalized Groups

Communities often misrepresented in mental health.

Bioethics

Study of ethical issues in healthcare practices.