title: Are the rights of people with mental illness still important?
abstract: This survey measured the attitudes of clinical social workers toward the rights of psychiatric patients who are involuntarily committed to institutions. The questions covered five content areas: involuntary commitment, environment and daily living, right to treatment, right to refuse treatment, and presumption of legal incompetence. Although the majority of respondents supported patients' rights, a minority demonstrated restrictive attitudes and an unawareness of existing laws regarding patients' rights. Controversial issues, such as the right to refuse treatment, evoked the least support.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa 33620.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wilk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D028701:Patient Rights; D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric; D014481:United States