There are three lines of argument in defence of coercive treatment of patients with mental
disorders: arguments regarding (1) societal interests to protect others,(2) the patients' own
health interests, and (3) patient autonomy. In this paper, we analyse these arguments in
relation to an idealized case, where a person with a mental disorder claims not to want
medical treatment for religious reasons. We also discuss who should decide what in
situations where patients with mental disorders deny treatment on seemingly rational …