Interesting Psych Issues? Looking for paper topic

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Feb 21, 2005

Schizophrenia: The Individual's Right to Privacy vs Society's Responsibility to care for the Schizophrenic Individual

OK. Long title, but you get my drift.

CharlieRN · Feb 23, 2005

Well, hitting to your strengths, how about looking into the rights of pregnant psych pt's and their newborn's. Women who are pregnant should not take psych meds. If they or their MD's op to do so what are their responsiblity's re; possible damage to the newborn? Are insurance companies required to pay for months of inpatient treatment while prego/psycho can't be safe without her meds and can't take her meds? What kind legal pressure can be applied to force her out of the hospital? Can she be forced to put her child at risk?

normj · Feb 23, 2005

Of course there is always the subject of restraint use ... as a nurse, you could put a great spin on it, such as Pt rights versus RN safety ... and if you do do that, post your paper here so we can see what you have learned!

pattyjo, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2005

Hi everyone,
I need to write a paper for my law school class "Civil Law and Psychiatry." It has to somehow involve, well, the law and psychiatry, but otherwise there are almost no restrictions.
Any suggestions for an interesting psych issues?
My nursing background is post-partum, but I'm willing to write about anything if it's interesting.
All suggestions appreciated! :balloons:

You might find some direction here: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. http://www.bazelon.org/

What about treatment vs incarceration of women suffering from post partum psychosis who harm their children? A terrible topic I know, but one that seems to generate alot of strong emotion on both sides. Sorry, just re-read your post and realize you are looking at civil law. I don't know if you can find a way to use that topic, since it most often comes up under criminal. Perhaps something on the difficulties parents have in getting treatment for their kids; having to resort to the justice system in order to have them treated? Psychiatric advanced directives?

Good luck

Patty

Lawnurse · Feb 23, 2005

These are all excellent suggestions! :)

Funny someone should mention postpartum depression...the course is taught by 2 professors, one of whom in psychologist Dr. Phillip Resnick who is literally the country's leading expert in child-murder (by parents). He testified for the defense in the Andrea Yates case and likely will do so again since the prosecution (accidentally) offered false testimony -- meaning she may get a new trial.

The issue of mothers getting or not getting their infants based on their psych situation is interesting...I saw a lot of moms lose their babies (to the county) due to drug use, but none for psych purposes....although I did once refuse to take a patient from L&D because she was having some psych issues with the baby and we couldn't provide constant supervision.