An Ethical Assessment on Patients InvoluntarilyAdmitted to the Psychiatric Ward of a UniversityHospital

Abstract

Objective: Involuntary hospitalizations are commonly applied in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. These practices havebeen controversial since they may pose morally questionable situations. This study aimed to reveal the clinical characteristicsof patients who were involuntarily admitted to the psychiatry clinic as well as the reasons behind the involuntary admissiondecision and to examine the findings from an ethical point of view. Materials and Methods: Socio-demographic and clinical records of patients who had been involuntarily admitted to auniversity hospital between January-2013 and January-2019 were collected retrospectively. These data were compared withthe variables of the voluntarily admitted patients who were matched with the involuntarily admitted study group in terms ofadmission year, sex, and age. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of socio-demographic characteristics. The fre quency of involuntary hospitalization was found to be higher in patients with psychotic disorders. These patients had a longerduration of hospitalization and were given long-acting antipsychotics more frequently. There was no significant differencebetween the groups in terms of risk of doing harm to oneself/others and treatment needs. Conclusion: Involuntary hospitalizations would contradict further with the principle of respect for patient’s autonomy incomparison with those done due to the risk of doing harm to oneself/others. Prolonged hospitalization and long-acting drugchoices in the absence of the risk of giving harm to oneself/others may contradict basic ethical principles, such as the right tochoose one’s treatment. Caution should be taken against potential ethical issues while considering involuntary hospitalization.