Is the practice of ECT ethical?
The ethical principles of medical care are beneficence (doing good), non-maleficence (not doing harm), autonomy (right to refuse or accept treatment), and justice (equality of opportunity). The present practice of ECT meets standards for beneficence, non-maleficence, and autonomy. In many nations, however, the principle of justice is not respected, leading to unavailability of ECT, increased suffering and prolonged illness. The signs of improvement are slowly surfacing in the greater recognition of the efficacy of ECT, greater tolerance to its use, and in establishing treatment standards.
Fink
Max
M
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Long Island, New York, NY, USA. mfink@sunysb.edu
D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000628:therapy*; D026686:Beneficence; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000941:ethics* / Q000592:standards; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D012935:Social Justice; D016896:Treatment Outcome