Abstract
The ethical and legal principles guiding Western medical practice form a foundational pillar for the practice of psychiatry in USA. The American Psychiatric Association has annotated the principles of ethics developed by the American Medical Association to apply to psychiatric practice. It is the obligation of every psychiatrist to be informed of these principles and practice accordingly. Every state also has separate but often similar laws and regulations that govern medical practice. State medical and/or psychiatric societies serve to assist practitioners to comply with ethical and legal practice. Boards of Medical (Health Care) Professions in each state have the responsibility of monitoring compliance through the process of licensure and registration. State departments of health or mental health provide the necessary structures, policies, rules and guidance to assist the practitioner, clinics and institutions and support services providers in maintaining quality and compliance, and checks and balances, especially in the public sector. Finally, advocacy, human rights and watch dog groups have taken roots to create responsive and accountable systems of care.
For the ultimate success of the health care enterprise, it is however for the individual practitioner, motivated by the welfare of his/her patients and professional integrity to strive and achieve the highest levels of professional, ethical, and humanistic practice.
In this chapter, we present the ethical principles and contemporary practice, and legal aspects of psychiatry and current issues and challenges in psychiatric practice in USA. We list patient rights that have become integral to the provision of high quality mental health services. The bibliography will take the interested reader to an in-depth understanding of these issues.
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Srinivasaraghavan, J., Fernandez, A., Pandurangi, A. (2015). Mental Health Services in USA: Ethical and Legal Aspects and Human Rights—What India can Learn from Western Models. In: Trivedi, J., Tripathi, A. (eds) Mental Health in South Asia: Ethics, Resources, Programs and Legislation. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 58. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9017-8_9
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