Is it time for a formal disciplinary code for psychiatric in-patients in England and Wales?
Within psychiatric hospitals it is not legal for staff to formally punish a patient for any misdemeanour. The staff response to such an incident is cloaked in therapeutic terms even if it is in effect a disciplinary punishment. To avoid injustice and introduce safeguards into this process Professor Genevra Richardson (1993, 1995) suggests the need for the introduction of a disciplinary code for psychiatric in-patients. This paper discusses the need for better guidance for psychiatric staff and the problems of punitive sanctions on patients.
Institute of Criminology, Cambridge.
J H
JH
Crichton
D004739:England; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010361:Patients; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D014852:Wales