Ethical Issues of Psychiatric Nursing in Japan: A Literature Review

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this paper is to examine the latest research and literature related to psychiatric nursing in Japan in orderto shed light on the ethical challenges that the field currently faces. Methods: A literature search was conducted using the keywords psychiatric nursing and nursing ethics within the searchsystem of the Japan Medical Abstracts Society. We examined recent literature (2013–2018) as well as research articles onexcited literature. Result: We examined 24 of literatures related to ethics in psychiatric nursing. These studies showed that psychiatricnurses perceive their ethical dilemmas to be “an inability to respect the patient’s wishes,” “restricting the movement ofpatients,” “conflict between patients and their families,” “interaction with patients,” and “insufficient communicationbetween treatment providers.” Discussion: Problems that psychiatric nurses in Japan perceived as ethical dilemmas arise from the nature of mental illnesses and are ethical quandaries that every country must deal with. One of the reasons psychiatric nurses in Japan feel that restricting the movement of patients creates an ethical dilemma has to do with the country’s former yet longstanding practice of committing mentally disabled individuals to psychiatric facilities. Some of Japan’s cultural aspects that influence ethical issues in psychiatric treatment are its family system and its methods of human interaction. Conclusion: It is essential that psychiatric nurses understand their own culture and maintain an ethical view as members of the nursing profession.