Ethics Dilemmas in Psychiatric Practice-View Presentation

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Video Summary

The session led by Charles Dike and members of the Ethics Committee focused on addressing ethical dilemmas faced by psychiatrists in practice. Participants asked questions related to different areas of ethics in psychiatry, including maintaining patient confidentiality during telehealth sessions, handling conflicts of interest, and ensuring informed consent. The committee emphasized the importance of creating robust protocols and maintaining open communication with patients regarding their care.<br /><br />Topics of concern included the role of ethics in systemic hospital policies, managing patient autonomy when faced with risky behaviors, and ethical challenges in prescribing practices amid trends that may not align with current guidelines. For instance, questions arose on how to ethically manage patients requesting medications for conditions like adult ADHD and balancing the potential over-prescription of substances like amphetamines.<br /><br />The session also delved into the ethics of working in small communities, such as concerns about accepting gifts from patients, treating family members, and managing relationships with colleagues. The committee provided guidance on these issues, stressing the importance of maintaining boundaries and evaluating the impact of actions not just on the individual psychiatrist but on the profession and patients at large.<br /><br />The session concluded with a call to remain updated on evolving ethical standards, including areas like AI in psychiatry, and encouraged ongoing education for psychiatrists in ethics to better navigate new challenges in the field.

Keywords

ethical dilemmas

psychiatry ethics

patient confidentiality

telehealth

conflicts of interest

informed consent

systemic hospital policies

patient autonomy

prescribing practices

adult ADHD

small communities

AI in psychiatry

ongoing education