Ethics and the prescription pad.
This article reviews the considerations that inform ethical psychotropic medication prescription processes at the clinical level with child and adolescent patients and their families or guardians. Physician attributes, cultural and religious factors, and the psychodynamic aspects of psychopharmacology are reviewed, in addition to the applications of basic ethical principles and concepts to the act of dispensing psychotropic medications. Attention is given to the processes of informed consent, assent, and challenges encountered to ethical prescribing for special populations such as children in foster care and juvenile justice systems. Ramifications of black box warnings and off label prescribing are discussed. Finally, the authors offer practical tips to guide clinicians in ethical psychopharmacologic management of their child and adolescent patients.
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 492 Ponce de Leon Manor NE, Atlanta, GA 30307, USA. dellml@comcast.net
Mary Lynn
ML
Dell
Brigette S
BS
Vaughan
Christopher J
CJ
Kratochvil
D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics*; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000941:ethics; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000941:ethics; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014481:United States
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs