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Ethical Problems in Psychotherapy

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Book cover Ethics in Psychiatry

Part of the book series: International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine ((LIME,volume 45))

Abstract

Potential ethical problems of psychotherapeutic treatments are discussed with regard to Principles of Biomedical Ethics (Beauchamp and Childress 1983; last edition 2008). After firstly debating the relationship between ethical problems and treatment error the possible ethical problems in psychotherapeutic treatment are discussed, especially ethical problems in treatment planning, ethical dilemmas in informed consent and surrounding economic conditions of treatment. Furthermore, ethical requirements of the therapist are considered and treatment errors and possible ethical implications are discussed (including sexual misuse). Finally, ethical consequences for therapeutic practice are mentioned.

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Correspondence to Ulrich Rüger .

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Rüger, U., Reimer, C. (2010). Ethical Problems in Psychotherapy. In: Helmchen, H., Sartorius, N. (eds) Ethics in Psychiatry. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 45. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8721-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8721-8_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8720-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-90-481-8721-8

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