International Psychiatry: Volume 7 -

Author's reply
Tony Zigmond
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02 January 2018, p. 25
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Sir: I am a little surprised by Professor Sugarman's letter, as my editorial does not condemn, categorically or otherwise, the detention of people who are competent but mentally ill. Furthermore, I am not aware (I accept this may be my ignorance) of any country having a law which permits treatment of, to use Professor Sugarman's example, infectious diseases, in the face of capacitous refusal (my editorial refers, at this point, to treatment rather than detention). It is certainly not permitted in England and Wales.

Language, politics and psychiatry
Norbert Skokauskas
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02 January 2018, p. 25
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Sir: In psychiatry as in politics, it is important to use terms correctly, to be precise. One sentence, one phrase or sometimes even one word can destroy a doctor-patient relationship, or can cause a war between two countries.

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