'Shhh! Please dont tell... Confidentiality in child and adolescent mental health [Articles]

This article explores confidentiality in the context of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), particularly when the clinician is having to make decisions on whether to maintain or to breach it. Ethical principles (both deontological and consequentialist) and legal and regulatory frameworks (relating to human rights, case law and General Medical Council guidance) are outlined. Four hypothetical case scenarios are used to illustrate how to apply such principles: when a young person seeks confidential access to treatment, and when he or she discloses information that could signify a risk to self, to others or from others. Finally, practical suggestions on how to share information are explored.
Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Articles Source Type: research