Legal and ethical issues in informed consent to psychotherapy

Abstract

Abstract Ethical and legal issues concerning the application of informed consent in psychotherapy are reviewed in relation to: 1) controversies in defining an informed consent; 2) ethical and legal responsibilities of a psychotherapist in obtaining an informed consent; 3) potential ethical and legal liabilities for not implementing the informed consent doctrine; and 4) principles of confidentiality and privileged communication as they apply to this doctrine. Suggestions are made on how to implement an informed consent legally and ethically in psychotherapy.