Premium
The cost of safety: Balancing risk and liberty in psychiatric units
Author(s) -
Zhong Rocksheng,
Wasser Tobias
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
bioethics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.494
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1467-8519
pISSN - 0269-9702
DOI - 10.1111/bioe.12804
Subject(s) - autonomy , adverse effect , aggression , psychological intervention , patient safety , medicine , psychology , psychiatry , health care , computer security , risk analysis (engineering) , medical emergency , computer science , political science , law
The systems approach is a widely accepted method for addressing healthcare adverse events. However, when adverse events are behavioral in nature, such as self‐injury or aggression, a systems approach can restrict patient autonomy. We propose guidelines for balancing safety and autonomy considerations when developing systems for behavioral adverse events: interventions that do not limit patient liberty, or that therapeutically address the root causes of behavioral adverse events, should be fully utilized. Clinicians should collaborate with patients when designing systems that may restrict patient liberty. And clinicians should be supported in managing the stress that accrues from working in hazardous environments.