Discussion Prompt: The following scenario depicts a common interaction between patients and inter-professional team members in an in-patient mental health environment. Provide your analysis of the case focusing on trying to understand the subtleties and complexities of the ethics of everyday interactions between patients and staff in an acute mental health unit. In analyzing the situation it’s important to keep in mind that all professionals are fully trained and experienced, and neither the motivation of the staff to help nor the patients to be helped is at issue.

In your analysis:

Consider what the patient’s and staff perspectives are at the level of the interaction. Where do you think they are coming from based on the way they interact with each other?
Identify the ethical principle(s) and issue(s) at the core of the situation and explain your response. (An example of an interactional/communication-related ethical principle is patient privacy. Examples of ethical issues are accuracy and truth in communications with patients and professional boundaries.)
How can the professionals in this situation interact differently to uphold the ethical principle or address the ethical issue you have identified?