Etiske perspektiver i behandling av spiseforstyrrelser hos barn og unge

Abstract

This article aims to show how the use of systematic ethical considerations can illuminate important dilemmas in the treatment of eating disorders in children and adolescents in Norwegian mental health care. In a fictional clinical case, a six-step model for ethical reflection is used to examine the role of parents in family-based treatment (FBT) or, more precisely, how the explicit responsibility given to parents in FBT may lead to doubts about their ability as caregivers, and whether a recommendation for hospitalisation should in such cases be equated with the therapist’s duty to notify the child welfare service. By conducting a consistent and methodical review of relevant aspects of these ethical problems, the analysis offers a concrete, systematic way in which to clarify the ethical challenges, uncover underlying values and explore new perspectives and solutions in the treatment of eating disorders in children and adolescents. Furthermore, it suggests important areas of development in evidence-based practice and cross-sectoral cooperation in the field of eating disorders. Keywords: Family-based treatment, eating disorder, parents, care, ethical analysis, evidence-based practice