title: [Ethical conflicts in psychiatry as a subject of supervision processes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the paper is to discuss, how far supervision processes in psychiatry are used for ethical consultation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analyzing three cases from the supervision practice of the author ethical conflicts in psychiatric care are described and discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethical conflicts in psychiatric care mostly concern the conflict between patient autonomy and the need of psychiatric treatment, questions about professional role, but also the question of equitable utilization of limited treatment resources. In each of the discussed cases it can be asked, how far the patient is able to understand the benefits and necessity of treatment and provide consent and the possible consequences of non-treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supervision can be a useful means of addressing and reflecting on ethical conflicts in psychiatry. As a common process of the team it can argue and prepare treatment decisions and strengthen the ethical orientation among the staff. Because of the more open process and the long-term professionalization attitude it can support but not replace more formal and highly structured ethical consultation in critical cases and the establishment of ethic commission, ethic codices and rules in psychiatric institutions.
authors.affiliation: Fakultät für Gesundheits- und Pflegewissenschaften, Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mitzscherlich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D032781:Codes of Ethics; D003068:Coercion; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000941:ethics; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D033061:Ethics Consultation / Q000941:ethics*; D004992:Ethics, Medical / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics; D008611:Mentors / Q000193:education*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education* / Q000941:ethics*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D013405:Suicide / Q000941:ethics; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000941:ethics; D000092864:Suicide Prevention