A New Method for Moral Case Deliberation with Both Forensic Inpatients and Staff: Development and First Experiences

Moral Case Deliberation (MCD) involving both patients and staff is often challenging, yet adapted, co-created dialogue may improve mutual understanding. This pilot study presents Joint MCD (JMCD), a new ethics-support format developed through trial and error in a Dutch forensic psychiatric unit. Across ten sessions, participants reported better insight into each other’s perspectives and actions. We describe the step-by-step method, lessons learned, and participants’ suggestions for improvement. Although JMCD shows promise as a joint learning approach, challenges remain, particularly in creating dialogue on genuinely equal terms between patients and professionals.