The Social Context of Ethical Practice in Mental Health Care Essay

The Social Context of Ethical Practice in Mental Health Care - Essay Example It shall discuss the planning, implementation, and evaluation associated with their care relating it to the nursing process and theoretical framework and model of care underpinning the assessment. The driving force for the development of mental health policies were concerns on public safety and on the minimization of risk (Fry, 2011). In the 1700s, their fears of mental illness were mostly related to their fears on witchcraft and the devil. The lower classes believed that only by using violent means could the mental illness be treated. Among the upper classes, they were keen on morally condemning such illnesses; and their fears of these diseases impacted on mental health with the attitudes of apathy being expressed against these diseases (Fry, 2011). During King George’s time when he was apparently cured of his mental illness, the attitudes towards mental illness changed and took on a more accepting attitude. The people had faith in the belief that the mental illness can be cu red. As a result, asylums for the treatment of the mentally ill were established (Fry, 2011). More research on mental illness and on its treatment was carried out. Models of sanity were also conceptualized; these models were accepted among professionals and laymen. Unfortunately inasmuch as these asylums were built on noble and helpful reasons, they soon became places of incarceration for the mentally ill, not a place of treatment (Fry, 2011). The war gave birth to the so-called war trauma which was identified as a mental illness. This mental illness became the subject of many studies. However, even as the general concern was for the treatment of mental illnesses, the focus of legislation ran towards detainment and compulsory treatment (Fry, 2011). After the Second World War and with the advent of drug therapies, including tranquilizers and neuroleptics, better odds for the treatment of mental illness brought about legislation for the improvement of the treatment of patients in ment al institutions (Fry, 2011). In 1983, the Mental Health Act was introduced in order to secure the rights of mental health patients and to protect public safety. The National Health Service and Community Care Act of 1990 further improved this law by introducing community care for the mentally ill. More improvements were later seen on mental health care with the amendment of the Mental Health Act as introduced by the Mental Health Act of 2007. Description of patient My client who shall be referred to as Patient A was admitted into the rehabilitation unit from Ward 8 following his right below the knee amputation. His amputation was carried out as a result of infected foot ulcers. His sutures from his amputation were recently removed and he was now set to start the rehabilitation process. The rehabilitation unit where he was admitted specializes in orthopaedic and stroke rehabilitation patients, including patients having had fractures, amputations, and patients with bodily weakness caus ed by paralysis as a result of strokes and spinal injuries. The unit focuses on regaining mobility for patients, helping them regain strength and coordination in their movements, and assisting them in learning ways on how to carry out their daily activities even with their disabilities. On the third of March 2011, an ectasia was detected in his right common iliac. Further infection of foot ulcers in the area led to further