Australia: Examine ethical considerations when prescribing psychiatric drugs for children. These courses cover risks, benefits, and informed consent.
Australian psychologists, paediatricians and psychiatrists who are involved in the care or referral of children for psychiatric medication can use this course to think through the ethics of those decisions. Dr Anusha Lachman covers the decision to medicate, the idea of goodness of fit, pharmacotherapy and the principles of medical ethics. She considers how psychiatric drugs may affect developmental trajectories, why prescribing should be sensitive to context, and the questions raised by off-label use, neuro-enhancement, consent and autonomy in young people.
Dr. Anusha Lachman provides an insightful exploration of the ethical considerations involved in prescribing psychiatric medications to children. This talk assists health professionals in navigating the complex balance of risks and benefits when making decisions about psychiatric interventions for young people.
Key ethical concerns discussed include the vulnerability of the child population, potential impacts of psychiatric drugs on brain and developmental trajectories, and the importance of context-sensitive prescribing. The presentation also covers topical issues such as off-label prescribing, the use of neuro-enhancers, and the ethical principles relating to age of consent, autonomy, and beneficence.
This talk is essential for psychologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and other health professionals involved in the care or referral of children for psychiatric medication.
Sections
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
Identify key ethical considerations in prescribing psychiatric medications to children
Evaluate the risks and benefits of psychiatric drug use within the context of a child’s developmental needs
Discuss the implications of off-label prescribing and neuro-enhancer use in pediatric populations
Apply ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, and age of consent to clinical decision-making
Support informed, sensitive referral decisions for psychiatric intervention in children