Ethical and legal aspects of religious assistance in psychiatric hospitals

Authors

  • Camilla Casaletti Braghetta Hospital João Evangelista
  • Giancarlo Lucchetti HOJE; Departamento de Pesquisa da Associação Médico-Espírita
  • Frederico Camelo Leão Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas
  • Cândido Vallada Hospital João Evangelista
  • Homero Vallada FMUSP; Departamento de Psiquiatria
  • Quirino Cordeiro Santa Casa de São Paulo; Faculdade de Ciências Médicas; Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832011000500004

Keywords:

Spirituality, religion and medicine, psychiatry

Abstract

The religious assistance to inpatients with severe psychiatric disorders is a problem rarely discussed among psychiatrists. Legal aspects ensure the right to religious assistance to such patients, although some specific aspects lead to reflection and caution in certain situations. Thus, the main of the work is to discuss ethical, legal, scientific and religious aspects of religious assistance in psychiatric hospitals. It will also address some comments on the concepts of autonomy, beneficence and nonmaleficence, contained in bioethical principles. Finally, it will be presented the experience of the João Evangelista Hospital approach on such cases. In conclusion, ethical and legal conflicts can appear because patients have the right to receive a religious attendance. However, in some conditions, this assistance could lead to a worse in patients clinical status. Family orientation and doctor-patient-hospital relationship are essential to resolve these conflicts.

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Published

2011-01-01

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 5 (2011)

Section

Original Articles

License

Once accepted for publication, the manuscript becomes permanent property of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry. This copyright transfer subsumes exclusive and unlimited entitlement of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry to publish and distribute the full contents of articles in whichever publishing medium, including press and electronic media, in Brazil and abroad.

Manuscripts are accepted with the understanding that the Editor and the editorial staff have the right to make revisions aimed at greater conciseness, clarity, and conformity with Journal style, of course without changing its content.

How to Cite

Ethical and legal aspects of religious assistance in psychiatric hospitals . (2011). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 38(5), 189-193. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832011000500004