The Use of Coercive Measures in Forensic Psychiatric Care : Legal, Ethical and Practical Challenges

This book presents the legal context and describes the ethical and practical challenges when using coercive measures in forensic psychiatric settings. A wide range of aspects relevant to the use of such measures, including environmental, patient-related, and staff-related factors, are explored, and the experience of coercive interventions is described from the staff and the patient perspective. Differences in jurisdictions and examples of good practice are highlighted. The authors are from a range of professional backgrounds, ensuring breadth as well as depth in discussion of the topic. The use of coercive measures, in particular restraint, seclusion, and involuntary medication, for the control of aggression in psychiatry remains controversial. Forensic mental health care deals with individuals who pose a risk to others and often present with significant management problems within institutions. The care of patients in these settings gives rise to debates about the balance between care and safety, and between the interests of the patients and those of the wider society to be protected. Despite these tensions, limited research has been conducted specifically on the use of coercive measures in forensic mental health care. This volume aims to fill the gap and will be of value to all professionals working in forensic psychiatric settings as well as to those working in general psychiatric and custodial settings, law professionals, and patients.--Résumé de l'éditeur This book presents the legal context and describes the ethical and practical challenges when using coercive measures in forensic psychiatric settings. A wide range of aspects relevant to the use of such measures, including environmental, patient-related, and staff-related factors, are explored, and the experience of coercive interventions is described from the staff and the patient perspective. Differences in jurisdictions and examples of good practice are highlighted. The authors are from a range of professional backgrounds, ensuring breadth as well as depth in discussion of the topic. The use of coercive measures, in particular restraint, seclusion, and involuntary medication, for the control of aggression in psychiatry remains controversial. Forensic mental health care deals with individuals who pose a risk to others and often present with significant management problems within institutions. The care of patients in these settings gives rise to debates about the balance between care and safety, and between the interests of the patients and those of the wider society to be protected. Despite these tensions, limited research has been conducted specifically on the use of coercive measures in forensic mental health care. This volume aims to fill the gap and will be of value to all professionals working in forensic psychiatric settings as well as to those working in general psychiatric and custodial settings, law professionals, and patients.--Résumé de l'éditeur "This book presents the legal context and describes the ethical and practical challenges when using coercive measures in forensic psychiatric settings. A wide range of aspects relevant to the use of such measures, including environmental, patient-related, and staff-related factors, are explored, and the experience of coercive interventions is described from the staff and the patient perspective. Differences in jurisdictions and examples of good practice are highlighted. The authors are from a range of professional backgrounds, ensuring breadth as well as depth in discussion of the topic. The use of coercive measures, in particular restraint, seclusion, and involuntary medication, for the control of aggression in psychiatry remains controversial. Forensic mental health care deals with individuals who pose a risk to others and often present with significant management problems within institutions. The care of patients in these settings gives rise to debates about the balance between care and safety, and between the interests of the patients and those of the wider society to be protected. Despite these tensions, limited research has been conducted specifically on the use of coercive measures in forensic mental health care. This volume aims to fill the gap and will be of value to all professionals working in forensic psychiatric settings as well as to those working in general psychiatric and custodial settings, law professionals, and patients"- - Springer Front Matter....Pages i-vi Introduction....Pages 1-6 Front Matter....Pages 7-7 International Human Rights and Institutional Forensic Psychiatry: The Core Issues....Pages 9-29 Legal Aspects of the Use of Coercive Measures in Psychiatry....Pages 31-48 Sociological Perspectives of Coercion in Psychiatry....Pages 49-68 Wise Restraints: Ethical Issues in the Coercion of Forensic Patients....Pages 69-86 An International Perspective on the Use of Coercive Measures....Pages 87-100 Front Matter....Pages 101-101 Coercive Measures in General Adult and Community Settings....Pages 103-134 Special Considerations in Forensic Psychiatry....Pages 135-149 The Uses of Coercive Measures in Forensic Psychiatry: A Literature Review....Pages 151-184 Coercion in Forensic Healthcare: A North American Perspective....Pages 185-208 The Use of Coercion in Prison Settings....Pages 209-227 Front Matter....Pages 229-229 Staff Attitudes Towards Seclusion and Restraint in Forensic Settings....Pages 231-240 Mental Health Workers’ Experiences of Using Coercive Measures: “You can’t tell people who don’t understand”....Pages 241-253 Patient Experience of Coercive Measures....Pages 255-270 Service User: Coercion Concern....Pages 271-281 Front Matter....Pages 283-283 Best Practices for Reducing the Use of Coercive Measures....Pages 285-314 Mechanical Restraint: Legal, Ethical and Clinical Issues....Pages 315-331