From Mysore Med Coll-India: Patients' autonomous decision-making should be balanced against their "relationships and interactions with society..."

Br J Psychiatry. 2014 Jan;204:1-2. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.113.129833.

Overvaluing autonomous decision-making.

Lepping P, Raveesh BN.

Author information

• Peter Lepping, MSc, MRCPsych, Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Mental Health and Society, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, UK; Bevinahalli Nanjegowda Raveesh, MSc, MBBS, MD(Psy), Department of Psychiatry, Mysore Medical College, India.

Abstract

Current capacity-based legislation and practice overvalues autonomy to the detriment of other ethical principles. A balanced ethical approach would consider the patient's right to treatment, their relationships and interactions with society and not solely the patient's right to liberty and autonomous decision-making.