You Are a Psychiatrist on Call with a State Prison

Multiple Choice

You are a psychiatrist on call with a state prison. You have been called in to examine an inmate who has been behaving erratically. Prison officials are concerned that he poses a danger to himself and others. They have confined him in a bare solitary cell to be sure he can't hurt himself, and have asked you to evaluate him. Immediately, you recognize an ethical dilemma. Your duty as a psychiatrist requires you to act in the best interests of your patient, but at the same time, you recognize that the prison setting brings with it certain duties that favor institutional security over patient rights.
After meeting with the inmate, you determine that he is in need of medication to control his psychosis. You are concerned that the inmate is unable to provide ________________ for the treatment, which challenges your professional ethics.

A) legal permission
B) informed consent
C) financial payment
D) a compelling reason