Ethics of Psychiatry

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

85

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.
It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This Unit will provide an introduction to the theory and practice of ethical decision-making in clinical psychiatry. Themes will extend over a wide terrain but cover ethical aspects of the psychiatrist – patient relationship, diagnosis, suicide, confidentiality, treatment in psychiatry, resource allocation and justice, child and adolescent psychiatry, psychogeriatrics and code of ethics.

• To recognise the various salient concepts in moral philosophy which constitute a basis for ethical reasoning and their relationship to clinical practice
• To identify the many ethical problems in clinical psychiatry and analyse them in a systematic way
• To demonstrate the ability to reach balanced ethical judgments through critical appraisal of competing theories
• To differentiate between clinical and ethical issues in the context of complex professional situations
• To identify coping strategies in the face of anxiety regarding difficult-to-resolve ethical dilemmas in clinical psychiatry
• To assess the value (and limitations) of codes of ethics and clinical guidelines

• Participation in class discussions, and completion of learning activities and group exercises, throughout term (20%)
• Written assignment of 2000 words, due within 3 weeks of teaching period end date (80%)
• Attendance: 75% of sessions (for face-to-face students) OR 75% completion of online modules (for online students) (Hurdle requirement)

Psychiatric Ethics, eds S.Bloch and S. Green, 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2006

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.