Ethics and Law

Question 1

In terms of capacity, what does incapable mean?

Answer 1

Inability to:

• act
• make decisions
• communicate decisions
• understand decisions
• retain memories of decisions

Question 2

What should be considered when assessing capacity?

Answer 2

Are the capable of making own choices?

Understanding the nature of what is being said to them?

Retention of the information

Is aware of alternatives

Is aware and able to weight up the pro’s and con’s

Is aware of the rights to refuse and accept

Question 3

What can be implemented if a person lacks capacity?

Answer 3

Adults with incapacity act 2000

Question 4

What is the most powerful predictor of future risk?

Answer 4

Past behaviour

Question 5

What is the leading cause of mortality in men between the ages of 20-49?

Answer 5

Suicide

Question 6

What are the risk factors for suicide?

Answer 6

Individual level:

• Mental health act
• Self harm
• Substance abuse
• Chronic illness

Psychosocial

• unemployment
• poverty

Question 7

What are the most common types of Deliberate self harm (DSH) and what are some risk factors?

Answer 7

Self poisoning
- paracetamol overdose

Cutting

• alcohol abuse
• childhood trauma
• unstable lives

Question 8

List some causes of why people self harm:

Answer 8

Situational crisis

Feeling helpless

Frustrations

Presence of mental disorder
- feeling like they are meant to die

Question 9

What things do you want to establish in the history of someone who has attempted to commit suicide?

Answer 9

The plan

• what
• where
• when
• any attempts to isolate to prevent interruption

Previous attempts

Preparations

• will writing
• giving things away
• note writing

History of psychiatry disease

Hope
- are they completely hopeless

Question 10

List some generalised approaches that have been implemented to help prevent suicide:

Answer 10

Population approaches:

• limiting pill number in packages
• limiting number paracetamol than can be bought
• catalytic converters on cars

Economical factors
- increasing employment

Education for GPs

Educating public/ anti-stigmata

Question 11

What are the various time lines for different psychological disorders of pregnancy?

Answer 11

Post-natal depression:
- 6-8 weeks

Postpartum psychosis:
- first 2 weeks.

Question 12

What is the law governing illegal drugs?

Answer 12

Misuse of drugs act 1971
- supply and procession of drugs.

Class A: Heroin, cocaine, MDMA, LSD

Class B: Cannabis, Ketamine, amphetamines, codeine

Class C: Diazepam, anabolic steroids

Question 13

What is the law governing the use of psychoactive substances?

Answer 13

Psychoactive substance act 2016

- bans any use of sale of psychoactive substances regardless of likely hood of harm