Ethics in mental health practice /

The ten essays in this cohesive collection treat the topic of ethics within the context of health care, specifically mental health practice. The essays are neatly orchestrated to provide an overview of the salient ethical issues of our time. The 16 contributors are authorities in psychiatry, philosophy, counseling, nursing, religion, and law, representing diverse geographical and philosophical backgrounds. Biographical sketches of the authors are included, as well as a synopsis of each chapter. Discussion questions and extensive citations regarding aspects of ethics and professional teamwork conclude each chapter. The appendix contains several codes of professional ethics and the American Hospital Association's ``Patient's Bill of Rights.'' Compared to Psychiatric Ethics, ed. by S. Bloch & P. Chodoff (1981), Ethics in Mental Health Practice is more suitable for undergraduate understanding of the fundamental mental health issues and the difficult ethical choices involved.-L.S. Gilliken, formerly Christopher Newport College