The University of Sydney
Discipline of Psychiatry
In their recent paper, Steeg et al. (2012) introduced ReACT, ‘a clinical tool to help identify patients at higher risk of repeat self-harm, or suicide, within 6 months of an emergency department self-harm presentation ’. The paper’s... more
In March this year, a group of medical practitioners, including eight who self-identified as Fellows of the College, made a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010. It stated that ‘marriage as... more
Objective: This paper proposes ethical guidelines for psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees when interacting with social media. Methods: A three-stage process was followed in the development of these guidelines. A literature review... more
The Western Australian government recently released a draft mental health bill for public comment. Disappointingly, the proposed legislation fails to adequately protect the human rights of West Australians living with mental illness.
The cover of the July 2011 issue of The Psychiatrist featured the unshaven face of a young man staring impassively back at the reader, with the caption ‘Psychiatric Report’, in what was an unmistakable parody of the publicity posters for... more
Objective: To provide practical guidance for psychiatrists asked to conduct an assessment of a woman requesting a termination of pregnancy. Method: The law relevant to termination of pregnancy in each of the Australian states and... more
Objective: Previous studies overseas have suggested that the Compeer volunteer companion programme lowers expressions of stigma among volunteers. We used an Australian sample to examine the hypotheses that being a Compeer volunteer is... more
While agreeing with the thrust and many of the recommendations of Dr Quadrio’s exhaustive review of patient therapist sexual contact (PTSC), I was disappointed with the poverty of ethical debate presented [1]. I was disappointed because,... more
Dr Cantor is to be congratulated on his recent paper, which represents a timely and thorough review of this area. I would though take issue with the term “parasuicide” which he uses both in the title and liberally through the text.
The framework that one uses for ethical debate depends upon the question one is interested in pursuing by such an endeavour. Traditionally this question has taken the form of, “what is the right thing to do in this situation?” In Tobin’s... more
Campbell [1] and Rosenman [2] should be congratulated for their contributions to the mental health law debate. Rosenman’s call for generic guardianship legislation that allows ongoing negotiation between a guardian and the treatment team... more
Objective: The aim of the paper is to determine the role that psychiatrists should play in legislation that establishes a right to active voluntary euthanasia (AVE). Method: One version of the “slippery slope” argument, usually invoked... more
Is there ever any reason for a doctor to lie to a patient? In this paper, we critically review the literature on lying to patients and challenge the common notion that while lying is unacceptable, a related entity - "benevolent deception"... more
Sadness and despair are normal responses to the news that one is gravely ill. However, as many as one in five seriously ill people go beyond this normal response to develop major depression [1-4]. Major depression is far more than a... more
In the last decade the use of advance directives or living wills has become increasingly common. This paper is concerned with those advance directives in which the user opts for withdrawal of active treatment in a future situation where... more
Objective: The aim of the paper is to devise an ethical argument to support the contention that post-termination patient-therapist sexual contact (PTSC) is always unethical. Method: Arguments both defending and condemning... more
Regardless of the presence or absence of pain, the fact that patients requesting euthanasia under the Act must be terminally ill does mean that euthanasia will not be available to people who are physically well. Most pain can be relieved.... more
On May 25, 1995, the parliament of Australia’s Northern Territory passed the Northern Territory Rights of the Terminally Ill Act [1] making voluntary euthanasia legal. This act allows physicians to prescribe and administer lethal... more
In May 1995, the Northern Territory of Australia became the first legislative jurisdiction in the world to introduce legislation specifically sanctioning active voluntary euthanasia. Shortly after the introduction of the legislation many... more