When my daughter was ill with anorexia, I wish our family had been given the comprehensive information and opportunity for informed consent that Dr. Ravin describes. Unfortunately, it is the exception, not the rule. We need to change that. A few other things to look at: The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct issued by the APA http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html (Section 10.01(b) requires the therapist to obtain informed consent after informing the parents of minors of the potential risks of the treatment and alternative treatments available) Also check out the Bill of Rights for Children's Mental Health Disorders and their Families published by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/resources_for_families/patient_bill_of_rights (note that "treatment must be family-driven and child-focused" and include "appropriate informed consent.") Finally, the malpractice laws in most states require treatment providers to fully explain all treatment options, including those not used by the provider, and obtain informed consent to the type of treatment offered by the provider. Failure to do so subjects the therapist or other professional to potential legal liability for malpractice, including return of fees paid and other remedies. My informal survey of eating disorder treatment providers in my area disclosed that a majority had very little if any knowledge of the Maudsley model and even more did not even bother to inform their patients' parents of Maudsley. This seems to be a pretty clear breach of legal and ethical obligations. How can this be happening?
When my daughter was ill with anorexia, I wish our family had been given the comprehensive information and opportunity for informed consent that Dr. Ravin describes. Unfortunately, it is the exception, not the rule. We need to change that.
ReplyDeleteA few other things to look at:
The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct issued by the APA http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html (Section 10.01(b) requires the therapist to obtain informed consent after informing the parents of minors of the potential risks of the treatment and alternative treatments available)
Also check out the Bill of Rights for Children's Mental Health Disorders and their Families published by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/resources_for_families/patient_bill_of_rights (note that "treatment must be family-driven and child-focused" and include "appropriate informed consent.")
Finally, the malpractice laws in most states require treatment providers to fully explain all treatment options, including those not used by the provider, and obtain informed consent to the type of treatment offered by the provider. Failure to do so subjects the therapist or other professional to potential legal liability for malpractice, including return of fees paid and other remedies.
My informal survey of eating disorder treatment providers in my area disclosed that a majority had very little if any knowledge of the Maudsley model and even more did not even bother to inform their patients' parents of Maudsley. This seems to be a pretty clear breach of legal and ethical obligations. How can this be happening?