Introduction and Scenario DescriptionWhen a patient enters the hospital, he or she expects healthcare providers to treat him or her with respect and fairness. Hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities should deserve and be renowned for having a strong set of ethical principles and respect before the law. For John, a 35-year-old schizophrenic experiencing a crisis situation, his mental health depends largely on his healthcare team. He has written an advance directive indicating which medications he would prefer to receive and that he wants his parents to be involved in his care, but is currently exhibiting paranoia towards his parents. John's healthcare team must decide what course of action to take. The purpose of this article is to examine the legal and ethical aspects of John's advance directive and his rights as a recipient. Ethical principles The ethical principles that most concern John's situation are those of autonomy and beneficence. John deserves respect for his autonomy and his caregivers should consider beneficence in all their interventions. Autonomy Autonomy is an important ethical principle that should be considered very carefully, especially with the limitation of personal autonomy found in hospitals. Burkhardt (2008) and Nathaniel define autonomy as self-governance and describe it as comprising four elements, the ability to determine personal goals, decide on a plan of action, be respected, and have the freedom to act on choices. In John's situation, his vulnerability in contrast to the power that healthcare professionals exercise over him endangers all four of these elements. Because your advance directives and current choices differ, the issue of compliance...... middle of document ......spx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-700-5506Mental Health Code, Section 708 (1974 ). Retrieved from http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(gufhuo45waexpbfzp0b1k3rk))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-330-1708Mental Health Code, Section 748 (1974). Retrieved from http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(3nal0oebralvrq45dznsj2f0))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-330-1748Srebnik, D., & Russo, J. (2007). Consistency of psychiatric crisis care with advance directives. Psychiatric Services, 58, 1157-1163.Stedman, T. (2000). Stedman's Medical Dictionary. (26th edition). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.Wilder, C., Elbogen, E., Moser, L., Swanson, J., & Swartz, M. (2010). Treatment preferences and adherence among individuals with severe mental illness and psychiatric advance directives. Psychiatric Services, 61, 380-385. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.61.4.380