In almost 75 years of history, ECT has been developed through technical innovations and quality assurance measures. Today, psychiatry is increasingly committed to protecting patients, their well-being and their decision-making autonomy in relation to the treatment process. The current challenges of medicine clearly show that a broader partnership between patient and doctor is developing, without secret or undivided clauses. When a satisfying relationship develops, it meets not only the medico-legal requirements, but also the basic needs of excellent practice. Education of the patient and family is an important part of the treatment process. The doctor must consider and evaluate the symptoms, the disease and the patient as a person. It is the failure to balance these elements in any patient care program that leads to a crisis in patient-physician relationships that will result in legal action. There is still controversy around the use of ECT as a treatment method. The aim of this review was to draw attention to the therapist-patient relationship, the patient`s view and attitude towards ECT, and informed consent.

These issues with important psychological, relational, ethical and medico-legal implications (in particular the risk-benefit assessment of ECT) were approached from a « patient-centred » perspective. Sedky, Mohammed. (2017). Forensic Approach to Psychiatric Patients. www.slideshare.net/mohamedsedky39/medico-legal-approach-of-the-psychiatric-patient. Sharma, Dr. Loveleen. (2013). MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECTS OF HEALTH CARE. www.slideshare.net/loveleenS/medicolegal-aspects-of-healthcare. The moral principles that guide medical practice are charity and non-evil, autonomy, justice, the value and sanctity of human life, truth and integrity.

In order to regulate the operation of hospitals on the basis that their implementation will eliminate gaps and grievances, laws on various aspects of health care have been enacted from time to time. Each hospital administrator must be aware of his or her legal rights and obligations towards hospital staff, staff, patients and visitors. You need to have enough knowledge of hospital care to know when to seek professional legal advice. Forensic experts should have basic knowledge regarding injuries/accidents, negligence related to civil and criminal cases, misconduct, professional incompetence, ethical issues in human experiences, organ transplants, sex determination and genetic counseling, euthanasia, ethical issues related to sexually transmitted diseases, etc. Medical legal experts should be aware of laws such as; Medical Abortion Act, Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act, Registration of Births and Deaths, Medical Council of India Act, Organ Transplantation Act, Mumbai Nursing Homes Registration Act, Clinical Facilities Act, Labour and Medical Facilities Act, Enterprises and Facilities Act, Biomedical Waste Management Act, Consumer Protection Act, Indian Penal Code. For a will to be legal, a person must be able to understand first and foremost what a will is, remember the nature and extent of their property, remember and acknowledge the relationship with living descendants and others who will be affected by the will. The ability to testify comes into play when an impaired person appears in court to testify. The court can decide if the person cannot testify. A person`s ability to sign a contract is to understand what a contract is and what its consequences are. To give proper consent, a person must have the mental capacity to enter into a contract, understand the transaction, act voluntarily – without threat or violence. With respect to divorce and custody, spouses of the mentally ill may apply to a psychiatrist for evidence regarding divorce in order to challenge the competence of mentally ill parents to care for their children. A need for guardianship is necessary when fundamental civil rights are eliminated, when we lose their function in several areas – making very bad decisions and not having an idea of the shortcomings, when there is no expectation of recovery, when they have clear and convincing evidence beyond a reasonable doubt when it is considered a last resort.

A quality health care practice depends on meeting the following factors: the professional, ethical and legal skills of the therapist to provide adequate care to the patient; the patient`s right to be properly informed about treatment and the right to receive or refuse treatment; legislative/state guidelines; and professional association codes and ethical practices [40].