Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T G Gratzer.
An individual with pedophilia and trichotillomania was treated with sertraline. Despite a longstanding history of trichotillomania, his hair-pulling behaviour stopped. In addition, pedophilic impulses also remitted. This improvement was noted not only in terms of subjective reporting but also in terms of biological and physiological testing done before and after treatment.
In this article, we examine one of the most contentious and divisive issues in mental health law: the right of the involuntary patient to refuse treatment. The recognition of this right can be traced to American case law starting in mid-1970s. The passing of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 precipitated somewhat similar developments in Canada. Many provincial Mental Health Acts have been changed to reflect this newly acknowledged right. In addition, there have been two recent court decisions in Canada, Thwaites v. Health Sciences Center and Fleming v. Reid, which reflect the impact of the Canadian Charter on this issue. The right to refuse treatment has implications for the field of psychiatry.