Informed consent in psychological research with citizens able-to-stand-trial and not-guilty-by- reason-of-insanity under the portuguese legal

Abstract

IN THIS PAPER, FRAMED IN A BROADER RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF PSYCHOLOGY THAT INVOLVES ABLE-TO-STAND-TRIAL AND NOT-GUILTY-BY-REASON-OF-INSANITY IN A PRISON IN PORTUGAL, WE INTEND TO BRIEFLY REVIEW THE LITERATURE ON THE USEFULNESS AND IMPORTANCE OF INFORMED CONSENT IN RESEARCH WITH FREE CITIZENS AND WITH CITIZENS LEGALLY DEPRIVED OF FREEDOM. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, NAMELY PSYCHOLOGISTS, SHOULD STRIVE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH FIRM STANDARDS OF ETHICS IN RESEARCH, REGARDLESS OF THE GROUP BEING STUDIED. WE BEGIN, THEN, DEFINE THE CONCEPTS OF DEONTOLOGY AND ETHICS, AND THEN TURNING TO THE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES COVERED IN THE PORTUGUESE LEGAL INFORMED CONSENT, INCLUDING RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY, COMPETENCE, RESPONSIBILITY AND KINDNESS AND NOT NONMALEFICENCE. WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK, WE DISCUSS ISSUES THAT ARISE WHEN CITIZENS INFORMED CONSENT IN LEGALLY DEPRIVED OF THEIR LIBERTY: AND ATTRIBUTABLE INDICTMENT