Psychiatric Ethics: Edited by Sidney Bloch and Paul Chodoff,  Oxford University Press, New York, Melbourne, 1981,  365 pp.

Although published several years ago, this book, edited by Bloch and Chodoff, continues to address in a most timely fashion ethical issues and dilemmas confronting psychiatrists in the western world. Composed of 18 chapters written by nationally and internationally acknowledged experts in the various fields of psychiatry, this volume deals with ethical issues in all the major areas of special interest in psychiatry. The editors initially pose the question for the reader of this volume, “Why is there a need for a book specifically on psychiatric ethics?” and I feel that they proceed to more than adequately explain the need for this volume. In their excellently written and lucid introductory chapter, they explain the social, economic, and political factors that have increasingly been brought to bear on psychiatric practice in the United States and Great Britain during the past two decades. Of special interest is the chapter by Richard Hare on the philosophical basis of psychiatric ethics. This particular chapter affords the non-philosopher an opportunity to become initially acquainted with some of the philosophical problems underlying ethical divisions.

Also of special interest are the chapters written by Walter Reich on “Psychiatric Diagnosis as an Ethical Problem,” in which he addresses the multiple problems and implications of psychiatric diagnosis.

Jerome Beigler authored the chapter on “Psychiatric Confidentiality in the American Legal System; Ethical Conflicts.” This excellent chapter addresses the topic in some depth, reviewing major court decisions that have affected the practice of psychiatry in the United States during the past decade.

Of most interest to this reviewer, in addition to the above-mentioned chapters, was the chapter by Robert Michels on “Training in Psychiatric Ethics.” It is clear that there has been little in the way of formalized training in psychiatric ethics in psychiatric training programs, either in Great Britain or the United States. Miche