Legal and Ethical Issues in Mental Health: A Professional Discussion

This presentation provides a professional discussion on mental health, focusing on the ethical and legal considerations involved in treating individuals with mental health issues, particularly in the context of a case scenario. It emphasizes the importance of adhering to the Mental Healthcare Act and making 'best interest decisions' when patients lack the capacity to make their own choices. The presentation also addresses legislation related to seclusion and restraint, highlighting the need for care providers to balance patient safety with civil rights. Engaging family members and multidisciplinary teams in the treatment process is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Ultimately, the presentation underscores the vital role of nurses in improving the health of patients with mental health problems and the importance of following legal and ethical guidelines in mental health treatment, this assignment is available on Desklib with other solved assignments.

Professional Discussion

INTRODUCTION
 Mental issue refers disorders that affect mood, thinking and behaviour of individual.
 This presentation is going to discuss mental health problems from which Simon is
suffering and some laws that need to be followed by care providers.
 Legal and ethical consideration improve mental health of patients and also protect care
providers against lawsuit or legal issues.

 It is stated that Simon, 31 years old boy suffering from mental health and psychotic symptoms so, it is important
for nurse manager to provide him the best treatment. As a nurse, I need to identify some ethical and legal
considerations that we all need to follow while treating him.
 Mental healthcare act: As per this act, it is responsibility of care giver to engage in treatment process ethically,
buy considering needs of patients.
 It is also important for care givers to make sure whether patient can make their own decision or not. In the case of
Simon, it is found that he is not able to take his own decision so, in this case, caregivers need to talk to his family
members and engage them in decision making process.
Ethical and legal considerations

Recommendation for a “best interest
decision” for Simon’s continued care
 Best interest decision need to be made when an individual has been assessed as lacking
capacity to make the relevant financial decision themselves. In regard to Simon, the
main decision that I need to take as a care provider is to decide which place would be
better for him. As he lives alone in council flat on the 10th floor and visit his mother
once a week. But now, he is not able to even maintain his accommodation and personal
hygiene.

Legislation that need to be considered as per the
case scenario
 Seclusion and restraint (health and safety act): As per the law, it is important for
care providers to provide psychiatric in a manner that allows the most freedom as well
as the least restriction in order to meet needs of patient.
 Care providers need to make sure Simon is safe at hospital. They need to be concerned
about the violation of civil rights.
 Hospital require to provide stringent guidelines that dictate the use of these treatment
options.

Ways of engaging Simon’s family and
multidisciplinary team
 Engaging family in mental health treatment process is vital as it has positive impacts on
health of patients.
 Family therapy is one of the best way in which family members of patients are engaged
and they are informed about mental condition of their patients.
 They are encouraged to treat and take extra care of their patients.
 The main goal of family therapy is improving communication, solving mental health
problems of patient and others.

Responsibilities, limitations and
accountability within this scenario
 Main responsibility of nurse in this case scenario is understanding needs of Simon and
taking extra care of Simon and improving his mental health.
 Helping him out in takin decision and making the best interest decision by engaging
family in treatment process.
 Other responsibility is to follow mental health laws and ethics.

CONCLUSION
 It has been summarised from the above presentation that nurses play a vital role in
improving health of patients with mental health problems. Legal and ethical
considerations in mental health treatment help care providers in improving decision and
health of patients.

REFERENCES
 Ponterotto, J.G., 2017. Ethical and legal considerations in psychobiography. American
Psychologist. 72(5). p.446.
 Eaton, J., 2019. Human rights-based approaches to mental health legislation and global mental
health. BJPsych international. 16(2). pp.37-40.\
 Duffy, R.M. and Kelly, B.D., 2017. Rights, laws and tensions: A comparative analysis of the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the WHO Resource Book on Mental
Health, Human Rights and Legislation. International journal of law and psychiatry. 54. pp.26-35.
 Nakarada-Kordic, I. and et.al., 2017. Co-designing for mental health: creative methods to engage
young people experiencing psychosis. Design for Health. 1(2). pp.229-244.
 Harvey, C.L. and et.al., 2018. Discursive practice–lean thinking, nurses’ responsibilities and the
cost to care. Journal of health organization and management.