Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to initiate a discussion in the field of the human rights of people with psychosocial disabilities, challenging the prevailing hegemonic medical model. I propose to examine the arguments used to legitimize and spread the use of antipsychotics, with serious side effects and questionable benefits, for children who suffer from some type of psychosocial disability. I argue that the effective guarantee of “respect for the developing capacities of children with disabilities” is called into question when the use of antipsychotics in childhood is trivialized. In this chapter, I particularly discuss the prescription of atypical antipsychotics for undisciplined and disobedient children.