Ethics and civil law

‘Ethics and civil law’ is concerned with the ways in which general ethical principles, relating to matters such as confidentiality, consent, and autonomy, are applied in the care of people with mental disorders. The chapter also covers the law as it applies to psychiatry in the United Kingdom. Ethical principles require extra careful attention in psychiatry because some patients lack capacity and because of the power of involuntary treatment. The ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and dignity are outlined with their inherent potential conflicts. The Mental Health Act for the detention of patients who are unable to recognize their need for treatment is also covered, as are some aspects of civil law that relate to the practice of psychiatry.