H. Eich et al., INFORMED CONSENT IN PSYCHOTHERAPY - SINGU LAR ACTION OR CONTINUOUS PROCESS - ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT A CASE-STUDY OF CHILD-ABUSE, Psychotherapeut, 42(6), 1997, pp. 369-375
As compared with the broad discussion of ethical issues in medicine an
d health care, there seems to be little awareness of central problems
such as obtaining Informed Consent of the patient or client in psychot
herapy or psychological counselling, respectively. Difficulties in inf
orming about chances and risks and of obtaining Informed Consent prove
to be challenging in the treatment of children and youths, particular
ly in the context of relational problems in the family. Static and ind
ividualistic concepts resulting from an orientation at a medico-legal
interpretation of ''informed consent'' as a desicional action only - a
s opposed to a dynamic process involving several participants - are no
t helpful here. The problem is analyzed on the basis of a case study o
f child abuse; considerations about problem solutions are discussed.