The EPA Code of Ethics presented at the 47th Congress of Polish Psychiatrists

Finally – we have all met in person!

For the 47th time, the Congress of Polish Psychiatrists was held under the patronage of the Polish Psychiatric Association (PTP). This time, the specialists met on 8-11 June, and their lectures and debates were under the motto: “When science meets practice”.

The event was well attended by 1,497 participants and a record number of 276 lecturers who debated simultaneously in five rooms. Among participants were not only psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists, but also lawyers, representatives of foundations, patient organisations, the Ministry of Health and the National Health Fund.

The Opening Session was a joint PTP-EPA Session entitled “Code of Ethics” organised together with the EPA Committee on Ethical Issues. The opening words belonged to our Ukrainian colleagues: “The Needs of Ukrainian Psychiatry Right Now” were followed by prof Natalia Maruta representing the Association of Neurologists, Psychiatrists and Narcologists of Ukraine,  prof Semen Gluzman and dr Jurij Zakal representing the Ukrainian Psychiatric Association.

The following talks then took place:

• “EPA Code of Ethics – the WPA Perspective” by prof Silvana Galderisi
• “EPA Code of Ethics – Ethical Guide for European Psychiatrists” by prof Meryam Schouler-Ocak
• “Ethical dilemmas in European psychiatry – preliminary report from the EPA/NPA questionnaire” by prof Przemyslaw Bienkowski
• “Policy of “open-door” psychiatry and minimisation of the use of direct coercive measures – a Polish Perspective” by prof Jerzy Samochowiec

It was a well attended and successful session.