Ethical Aspects of the Prevention of Suicide in Psychiatry

Abstract

From an ethical perspective, three values are at stake in the prevention of suicidethe inviolability of life, the autonomy of the client, and the care relationship between caregivers and client. These values can be integrated in the following way. The best prevention consists of a good care relationship involving intensive counseling of the client regarding existential questions. In this way, caregivers can increase the client's autonomy and responsibility. Sometimes, however, caregivers need to intervene with protective measures to safeguard the inviolability of the client's life. Caregivers strive for a reasonable balance between autonomy and inviolability by means of the integrating value of the relationship.

Ethical dilemmas encountered in suicide research and management: Experiences of young mental health professionals

“…This sometimes obliged them to breach the confidentiality of their patient and escalated their fear of exposing their patient to risks of abandonment, ostracisation, and maltreatment by family members (28,43). Also, the inviolability of life as an absolute truth positions the researcher to prevent suicide at all costs (44). Hence, maintaining confidentiality and honouring the autonomy of their client presented a looming risk of possible self-harm in some clients, especially adolescents and young adults.…”