title: The psychiatrist as moral advisor.
abstract: This paper is a critique of a paper by Robert Lipkin. Arguments for the following claims are put forward: (1) that what is 'essential' to the psychiatric relationship is what we want it to be for utilitarian reasons; (2) it would not be to our advantage to allow the medicalization of morality; (3) what we should expect from the psychiatrist is prudential advice, not moral advice, and that Lipkin has a confused view about the relationship between these two areas; and (4) we should not allow the psychiatrist to restrict individuals on moral grounds, but only on public safety grounds.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Redmon
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D028663:Ethical Theory; D006801:Humans; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009014:Morals; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000592:standards*; D012945:Social Values