Ethics, An Issue of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics

The world in which our patients live and in which we practice medicine has changed radically over the last decade. In addition to local, state, national, and international political spheres, the arenas of technology, business, media and entertainment, ecology and the environment, and the human genetics revolution affect us daily. All of these worlds are relevant to pediatrics, emotions, behavior, educational institutions, recreation, and relationships, so all have meaning and importance to children, adolescents, families, and the consequently the field of child and adolescent psychiatry. In this exciting new issue of Clinics in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Mary Lynn Dell explores such important topics as common ethical issues in child and adolescent psychotherapy, the influences of pharmaceutical companies and special interest groups, and ethical aspects of scientific publication. This issue will serve as primer on ethics in child and adolescent psychiatry - an introduction and overview for trainees and younger clinicians, and a helpful refresher for more seasoned practitioners who have come of age professionally since the discipline of bioethics has solidified as a necessary and helpful companion in the field.