Ethical analysis of the new proposed mental health legislation in England and Wales

This paper ethically analyses arising out the proposed changes to the Mental Health Act for England and Wales. It looks in particular at thea shift in philosophy that the author claims has occurred with the proposals away from rights-focused principles to more utilitarian or outcome-focused principles. It gives examples of these changes and explores itstheir consequences

Psychiatry's need for Vergangenheitsbewältigung: ‘culture wars’, cognitive dissonance and coming to terms with the past

UK psychiatry's sense of self rests on being part of a socially progressive national tradition. This makes it difficult to engage with more critical narratives. The process of analysing and accepting psychiatry's past can help our profession to get closer to its real self and on a path to a better future

Paternalism versus autonomy – are we barking up the wrong tree?

SummaryWe explore whether we can reduce paternalism by increasing patient autonomy. We argue that autonomy should not have any automatic priority over other ethical values. Thus, balancing autonomyv.other ethical pillars and finding the optimal balance between the patient's wishes and those of other relevant stakeholders such as the patient's family has to be dynamic over time.</jats:p