title: Physicians must honor refusal of treatment to restore competency by non-dangerous inmates on death row.
abstract: The role of physicians in death penalty cases has provoked discussion in both the legal system as well as in professional organizations. Professional groups have responded by developing ethical guidelines advising physicians as to current ethical standards. Psychiatric dilemmas as a subspecialty with unique roles have required more specific guidelines. A clinical vignette provides a focus to explicate the conflicts.
authors.affiliation: American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, USA.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zonana
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002203:Capital Punishment; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008875:Middle Aged; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents