The Ethical Issues That May Pertain Should The Compulsory...

Through practice, social workers may work with those who experience eating disorders, including the life threatening anorexia nervosa, however the imperative treatment of disordered eating often causes much controversy due to the ethical implications it carries. The medical dictionary defines Anorexia Nervosa as; ‘A psychiatric disorder characterized by an unrealistic fear of weight gain, self-starvation, and conspicuous distortion of body image. The individual is obsessed with becoming increasingly thinner and limits food intake to the point where health is compromised. The disorder may be fatal. The name comes from two Latin words that mean nervous inability to eat.’ Therefore due the physical and medical implications that anorexia nervosa presents, for an individual who experiences the condition, compulsory treatment is often deemed necessary. However this is often grounds for serious ethical debate between many, including medical professionals, those who experience anorexia nervosa and indeed social work practitioners. Thus the following essay will seek to explore the ethical issues that may pertain should the compulsory treatment of anorexia nervosa be utilised. By discussing the principles of ethical treatment, including the rights of the individual and also considering th e benefits of allowing the individual to choose their course of treatment, view on the compulsory treatment of anorexia nervosa. Within the Eating Disorders Review March/April 2008, Arnold E.