Europe and psychiatric ethics

Abstract

European integration confronts both individual psychiatrists and psychiatric service planners with ethical dilemmas that should best be dealt with proactively by medical and psychiatric organisations. Selected examples are presented of ethical issues arising out of differences in psychiatric practice across Europe. Some of the ethical implications may seem relatively minor, but still require a major adjustment effort on the part of psychiatrists who are exposed to transcultural practice in the European Union. Other examples have been selected, not because they are common, but because of their massive ethical ramifications.