Civil Commitment and the Mental Health Care Continuum: Historical Trends and Principles for Law and Practice (2 credit hours)
Program Summary: This course examines involuntary civil commitment in the US and includes a history of civil commitment and the evolving standards for civil commitment. Four ethical principles are examined: respect for autonomy, maleficence, beneficence. and justice. Ethical arguments and counterarguments are given (e.g. civil commitment limits autonomy vs civil commitment restores autonomy for the longer term.) Key legislation is explained and concepts of parens patriae, dangerousness, grave disability, and serious deterioration are discussed.
This course is recommended for social workers and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice. This course does not qualify for NBCC ethics credit. Read the complete description of this course…..