title: Community care or therapeutic stalking: two sides of the same coin?
abstract: Although the government of the United Kingdom strives to address the needs of individuals engaged in mental health services, its policies must, by their nature, reflect a utilitarian approach. When a client chooses to disengage from services, mental health professionals can find themselves in an ethical dilemma in which adhering to policies can lead them to hyperactive conduct, whereby the client may experience what feels more like stalking behavior than therapeutic care.
authors.affiliation: South Wrekin CMHT, Shropshire County PCT NHS Trust, Bicton Health, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom. janehelengraham@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Jane H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012919:Social Behavior; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom