Introduction: Treatment without the patient's consent in psychiatry is an area that raises numerous ethical dilemmas, as questions frequently arise regarding patient autonomy, decision-making capacity, and the role of healthcare professionals in making decisions. Mental disorders can affect an individual's judgment, which is why physicians may opt for involuntary treatment, especially when the health or life of the patient or others is at risk. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to present involuntary treatment in psychiatry and describe the most common ethical dilemmas that arise in such cases. Methods: A descriptive research method with a qualitative approach was used. An analysis of professional and scientific literature in Slovene and English, published between 2014 and 2025, was conducted. Literature was searched using the databases Google Scholar, PubMed, and Cobib. Boolean operators AND and OR were used along with keywords in both Slovene and English related to ethical dilemmas, involuntary treatment, and psychiatric nursing care. Results: The most frequently identified ethical dilemmas concern the respect for patient autonomy, the physical and psychological consequences of coercive treatment, and the moral distress experienced by healthcare professionals. These dilemmas often manifest as a conflict between the principles of beneficence and autonomy, with systemic limitations also playing a significant role. Discussion and conclusion: Ethics in involuntary psychiatric treatment remains a sensitive and complex area. It was found that ethical dilemmas affect both patients and healthcare workers, indicating the need for further research into patient experiences, the impact on staff, and cross-national legal comparisons. It is essential to establish a balance between protecting the patient and respecting their autonomy. Indeed, patient autonomy has become one of the most frequently discussed topics in recent years.
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