european psychiatric association

Committee on Ethical Issues

The EPA Committee on Ethical Issues is responsible for giving its contribution to the EPA position statements on ethical subjects, collaborating with the EPA National Psychiatric Associations to promote ethical standards in psychiatric research and care, organising events during the EPA congresses as well as during independent meetings relevant to ethical issues for psychiatry in Europe and actively gathering information through surveys on how ethics in psychiatry is being managed in Europe and elsewhere.

Committee on Ethical Issues Members 2022

Meryam Schouler-Ocak
Meryam Schouler-Ocak - Chair
Germany
Michael Musalek
Austria
Rutger Jan van der Gaag
The Netherlands
Jan Wise
UK
Sam Tyano
Israël
Silvana Galderisi
Silvana Galderisi
Italy
Thomas Pollmächer
Germany
EPA Simavi VAHIP
Simavi Vahip
Türkiye
Eka Chkonia
Georgia

Activities

The EPA Committee on Ethical Issues is conducting the following activities:

  • Dissemination of a survey about compulsory admissions laws and practices in the EPA NPAs countries
  • Participation in lectures, interactive seminars or courses during National Psychiatric Associations’ local conferences
  • Organisation of Ethical Courses during EPA Congresses
  • Creation and dissemination of an EPA Code of Ethics
  • Publications:
    • Compulsory admissions of patients with mental disorders: State of the art on ethical and legislative aspects in 40 European countries.European Psychiatry,63(1), e82, 1–9, available here
    • In June 2022, the EPA and the Committee on Ethical Issues issued a statement and call for action to raise awareness on the mental health consequences of the war in Ukraine. Read the full statement here.
  • Online Webinar on Ethical principles and dilemmas in psychiatry