Ethically sensitive mental health care: is there a need for a unique ethics for psychiatry?
OBJECTIVE
This article takes up the challenge to comment and extend on Jennifer Radden's claims for a 'unique ethics for psychiatry' articulated in 'Notes towards a professional ethics for psychiatry', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2002; 36:52-59.


METHODS
The author is analytically trained in bioethics and employs the method of con-ceptual analysis.


RESULTS
Psychiatry is a unique mental health care practice which calls for unique ethical responses. However, it doesn't necessarily follow that a unique ethics for psychiatry is required.


CONCLUSIONS
A more plausible explanation for how philosophical ethics informs the unique nature of psychiatric practice is better articulated within claims about the role-related nature of particular health care practices and the influence that the virtue of phronesis (practical wisdom) has on a clinician's decision-making and judgement.
Crowden
Andrew
A
School of Rural Health, University of Melbourne, PO Box 386, Wangaratta, Victoria 3676, Australia. acrowden@unimelb.edu.au
D001315:Australia; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000941:ethics*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000941:ethics*