In this ‘in conversation with’, I talk to Dr Matthé Scholten about self-binding directives, coercion in mental health treatment and how to characterise treatment that is in line with a person’s will but not their current preferences.

For the original video, see here.

Details of the SALUS project Matthé is working on can be found here.

Three articles describing matters discussed in the conversation in more detail are:

• Scholten, M., S. Efkemann, M. Faissner, M. Finke, J. Gather, T. Gergel, L. van der Ham, G. Juckel, A. L. van Melle, G. Owen, S. Potthoff, L. A. Stephenson, G. Szmukler, A. Vellinga, J. Vollmann, Y. Voskes, A. Werning, and G. Widdershoven. 2023. “Opportunities and challenges of self-binding directives: A comparison of research with stakeholders in three European countries.” European Psychiatry 66 (1): e48. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2421.
• Scholten, M., S. Efkemann, M. Faissner, M. Finke, J. Gather, T. Gergel, L. van der Ham, G. Juckel, A. L. van Melle, G. Owen, S. Potthoff, L. A. Stephenson, G. Szmukler, A. Vellinga, J. Vollmann, Y. Voskes, A. Werning, and G. Widdershoven. 2023. “Implementation of self-binding directives: Recommendations based on expert consensus and input by stakeholders in three European countries.” World Psychiatry 22 (2): 332-333. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21095.
• Scholten, Matthé, Laura van Melle, and Guy Widdershoven. 2021. “Self-binding directives under the new Dutch Law on Compulsory Mental Health Care: An analysis of the legal framework and a proposal for reform.” International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 76: 101699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2021.101699