Abstract

This study, based on the phenomenological approach, was aimed at exploring the meaning of privacy for forensic psychiatric patients. The narratives of two such patients, diagnosed with schizophrenia and hospitalized on a forensic unit because of a killing offence, were analysed by means of qualitative content analysis. The study was conducted in a Swiss psychiatric clinic with forensic units. The results demonstrated that ‘privacy’ is not a question of luxury but a very basic human right. The ethical implications for nurses acting as key workers in such situations are highlighted. Recommendations for practice are detailed