Defense of the position that patient-psychiatrist confidentiality should be absolute, otherwise patient trust is eroded is serious ways that affect the ability of all physicians to help their patients.
Defense of the argument that psychiatrists have a responsibility to warn the proper authorities if there is reasonable concern that a patient poses a threat to the safety of others.
Electroconvulsive therapy is not a good treatment option because numerous alternative, less harmful interventions are available for the treatment of depressed or severely depressed patients.
Electroconvulsive is an effective treatment option that should remain available for use, with proper ethical safeguards, for the treatment of severe clinical depression.