We will discuss the pros and cons of digital and technological tools used in psychiatric care. In some psychiatric hospitals (even before COVID), patients locked in psychiatric inpatient units are only allowed to be diagnosed and seen by psychiatrists on a video screen, not in person. In theory, these patients could lose their civil rights for 180 days without ever being seen in person by psychiatrists, lawyers or a judge. This presentation will examine the implications of digital rights and the proactive steps our community can take to ensure best care and rights for all. The experience and lessons learned of a small band of peers who created and carried a local state senate bill (OR SB 686, www.choiceheals.com) to ensure choice of inpatient in-person psychiatric will be introduced.
The benefits and warnings of the usage of other technologies will be examined. These include as Artificial Intelligence (AI) psychiatric diagnosing, Blockchain medical record keeping, and data from mental health apps in psychiatric medical decisions.
Goals from this presentation include: