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Autonomy and the Psychiatric Patient
Author(s) -
Matthews Eric
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of applied philosophy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.339
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1468-5930
pISSN - 0264-3758
DOI - 10.1111/1468-5930.00140
Subject(s) - irrationality , denial , autonomy , harm , irrational number , psychology , identity (music) , preference , epistemology , social psychology , psychiatry , law , psychoanalysis , rationality , philosophy , political science , aesthetics , geometry , mathematics , economics , microeconomics
The aim of this paper is to consider possible justifications for the denial of the right to refuse treatment in the case of certain kinds of psychiatric patients. The basis of this right in general is first considered: arguments based on Kantian conceptions of autonomy are rejected as confused, and preference is given to Millian arguments based on the right to make decisions about one's own life, however irrational, as long as they do not harm others. In light of this discussion, it is argued that mentally disordered people cannot be denied this right on grounds of their 'irrationality', which is anyway a vague concept with several meanings. In conclusion, it is argued that there may be a case for such a denial in those sorts of mental disorder which involve a 'disturbance of personal identity'.