The author discusses the right to receive ECT and describes voluntary
and involuntary patients for whom the treatment seemed both ethical and
humane. The right to refuse ECT must be respected in competent patients.
However, problems arise when patients' decision-making ability is
compromised by their illness. Informed consent questions include how much
and what type of information patients should receive and how much those
with disordered cognitive functioning can be expected to understand. The
author believes that ECT should be fully voluntary whenever possible and
that a court-appointed guardian should make such treatment decisions for
incompetent patients.
Abstract Teaser