Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-94d59 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T10:16:36.589Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The emergency treatment of overdose: a problem of consent to treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Tim Hardie*
Affiliation:
UDMS, Guy's Campus, St Thomas' Street, London, SE1 9RT
Kamaldeep Bhui
Affiliation:
Maudsley Hospital, London SE5 8AZ
Phillip Brown
Affiliation:
Prestwich Hospital, Manchester M25 9BL
*
Correspondence
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We surveyed 119 psychiatrists to see how they would act with a patient who has taken a potentially lethal overdose, has no mental illness, and is refusing treatment. There was substantial disagreement. There may be a risk of action under civil law whether the psychiatrist decides to treat the patient without his or her consent or not. The Law Commission are examining whether mental disorder, as defined in the Mental Health Act 1983, should be used as a test of Incapacity to give consent to medical treatment. Such legislation would help doctors but may encourage a wide interpretation of the definition of mental disorder.

Type
Original Papers
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994

References

Harrison, P. M., O'grady, J. G., Keays, R. T., Alexander, G. J. M. & Williams, R. (1990) Serial prothrombin time as prognostic indicator in paracetamol induced fulminant hepatic failure. British Medical Journal 301, 964966.Google Scholar
Korgaonkar, G. & Tribe, D. (1993) Suicide and attempted suicide – a doctor's liability. British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 50, 680681.Google Scholar
Law Commission (1993) Consultation Paper No 129: Mentally Incapacitated Adults and Decision-Making. Medical Treatment and Research. pp1024. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Lord Donaldson Of Lymington M. R. (1992) In Re T. (Adult Refusal of Treatment). Weekly Law Reports, 3, 782805.Google Scholar
Nelson-Jones, R. & Burton, F. (1990) Medical Negligence Case Law, p.8 Fourmat Publishing.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.