Recent surveys demonstrate a high and possibly increasing prevalence of mental disorders in prisoners. They have an increased risk of suffering from a mental disorder that transcends countries and diagnoses. Ethical dilemmas in prison psychiatry arise from resource allocation and include issues of patient choice and autonomy in an inherently coercive environment. Ethical conflicts may arise from the dual role of forensic psychiatrists giving raise to tensions between patient care/protection of the public.This book describes models and ethical issues of psychiatric healthcare in prison in several countries. Relevant issues are: the professional medical role of a psychiatrist and/or psychotherapist working in prison, the involvement of psychiatrists in disciplinary or coercive measures; consent to treatment, the use of coercion in forcing a prisoner to undergo treatment, hunger strike, confidentiality. The book ends with consensus guidelines concerning good practice in Prison Psychiatry.
"The book Ethical Issues in Prison Psychiatry is a comprehensive contribution to the subject, providing the reader with a rich analysis of the whole range of aspects that affect the ethical evaluation of the phenomenon. ... The clear style makes it accessible to readers coming from many different disciplines-for scholars interested in the argument as well as for social theorists and medical and legal practitioners ... ." (Luciana Caenazzo, Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics, Vol. 36, 2015)
"Editors and contributors of Ethical Issues in Prison Psychiatry have carefully laid out and discussed many issues that clearly cannot be ignored, whether by ethicists, scientist-practitioners, or policy makers seeking to improve the way we incapacitate, treat, and punish those who have serious difficulties adapting to social life and community laws. ... Ican't imagine any library that takes the work of prison treatment seriously that won't have a copy of Ethical Issues in Prison Psychiatry as a sourcebook." (J. Tyler Carpenter, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 59 (27), July, 2014)
"This book attempts to highlight the challenges unique to providing mental healthcare to populations of incarcerated individuals. The book is helpful for anyone interested in or participating in the treatment of mentally ill individuals in a correctional system, but it also may be enlightening for sociologists, criminologists, social workers, or anyone else invested in gaining a greater appreciation for the difficulties inherent in providing mental healthcare in a correctional institution. ... This is a useful resource that is a welcome addition to my bookshelf." (Steven T. Herron, Doody's Book Reviews, January, 2014)
"Editors and contributors of Ethical Issues in Prison Psychiatry have carefully laid out and discussed many issues that clearly cannot be ignored, whether by ethicists, scientist-practitioners, or policy makers seeking to improve the way we incapacitate, treat, and punish those who have serious difficulties adapting to social life and community laws. ... Ican't imagine any library that takes the work of prison treatment seriously that won't have a copy of Ethical Issues in Prison Psychiatry as a sourcebook." (J. Tyler Carpenter, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 59 (27), July, 2014)
"This book attempts to highlight the challenges unique to providing mental healthcare to populations of incarcerated individuals. The book is helpful for anyone interested in or participating in the treatment of mentally ill individuals in a correctional system, but it also may be enlightening for sociologists, criminologists, social workers, or anyone else invested in gaining a greater appreciation for the difficulties inherent in providing mental healthcare in a correctional institution. ... This is a useful resource that is a welcome addition to my bookshelf." (Steven T. Herron, Doody's Book Reviews, January, 2014)