Mental Health Law

Author(s):  
Anthony Holland ◽  
Elizabeth Fistein ◽  
Cathy Walsh

Mental health is everyone’s concern, an idea epitomized by the campaign tag line of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, ‘No Health Without Mental Health’. This chapter will demonstrate how an understanding of a patient’s mental health within his/her social and family context is central to clinical practice. We will consider the legal basis for the treatment of mental ill-health and how it can complicate the treatment of physical illness and lead to ethical and legal concerns. The general legal principles that govern health interventions are explored, and two specific statutes for England and Wales—the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended 2007)—are both considered in some detail. It will be shown how a sound appreciation of the clinical issues, an understanding of the law, and an ability to apply that law in clinical settings are essential when faced with situations involving mental ill-health.

This chapter gives an overview of mental health law. Whilst focusing on the legal specifics in England and Wales, the underlying ethical issues extend to all jurisdictions. It explains the duties that law places on health systems and clinicians to support patients to make decisions about their own health. However, it also explains the legal frameworks in place for children and people with mental illness, brain injuries, learning disabilities, dementia, or personality disorder who may require clinicians to decide their health care. Basic concepts of the Mental Health Act 1983, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and the Children Act 1989 are described, and parts of the law that psychiatrists need to know are presented concisely and in psychiatric context. The chapter includes a practical approach to mental capacity assessment.


Author(s):  
Brenda Hale

<p>We shall be reflecting on the experience of the three recent upheavals in mental health and mental capacity law – the <em>Mental Capacity Act 2005</em>, most of which came into force on 1 October 2007, accompanied by a Code of Practice; the <em>Mental Health Act 2007</em> amendments to the <em>Mental Health Act 1983</em>, most of which came into force on 3 November 2008, accompanied by its two Codes of Practice; and the <em>Mental Health Act 2007</em> amendments to the <em>Mental Capacity Act 2005</em>, bringing in the so-called deprivation of liberty safeguards or DOLS, on 1 April this year, together with another Code of Practice. That is a huge amount of new law for us all to get to grips with. Things have changed a great deal since I first started teaching Mental Health Law to social workers and psychiatrists in this very City in 1971 – nearly 40 years ago.</p>


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jillian Craigie

AbstractCalls for the adoption of a universal capacity approach to replace dedicated mental health law are motivated by the idea that the measures designed to protect patient autonomy in legislation such as the Mental Capacity Act 2005 should apply to everyone, including people with a psychiatric diagnosis. In this article it is argued that a diachronic perspective on questions of mental capacity is necessary if capacity law is to play this broader role, but that employing this perspective in assessments of capacity undermines central patient autonomy preserving features of the legislation, which presents a moral dilemma.


Author(s):  
John Horne

<p>As readers will be only too aware, the 3rd November 2008 will see the coming into effect of most of the amendments made by the Mental Health Act 2007 to the Mental Health Act 1983. It is also the date on which the Mental Health Review Tribunal becomes one of the new First-tier tribunals within the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber consequent to the provisions of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. With the publication of numerous regulations and lengthy Codes, the implementation of the Deprivation of Liberty (formerly a/k Bournewood) safeguards still scheduled to take effect in April 2009, and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 having not yet been in force for even a year, these are very demanding (and interesting) times for all those working in the field covered by mental health law.</p><p>There is so much to be considered and written about, but of course potential authors (particularly at this time) have many other pressing demands made of them, in addition to any requests editors of academic journals may make. Fortunately some have found the time to write for this issue of the JMHL.</p>


Pharmacotherapy, Developmental disorders, Eating disorders, Dementia, Mental Capacity Act 2005


2021 ◽  
pp. 134-155
Author(s):  
Jo Samanta ◽  
Ash Samanta

This chapter focuses on statutory provisions governing mental health and mental health disorders, with particular reference to the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. It first outlines modern approaches to mental disorders, including legal reforms and the MHA 1983 Code of Practice (2015). It considers the main routes by which patients are admitted to the mental health system (voluntary or involuntary), deprivation of liberty, including Cheshire West and the proposed liberty protection safeguards, and the issue of consent with regards to medical treatment. Finally, the chapter discusses community care that must be provided to people with mental health disorders following discharge from hospital, particularly aftercare and supervised community treatment orders. Relevant cases are considered.


Author(s):  
Kay Wheat

This chapter will examine two key areas of law relating to medical treatment and care of those with mental disorder. The question of decision-making capacity is important for health care professionals, and other carers and agents dealing with older people. The law relating to this is covered by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 supplemented by previous case law where this is still relevant, and the key aspect of the law is the ability to treat people without capacity in their best interests. However, in the case of some patients, it may be necessary to use the Mental Health Act 1983. This legislation is focussed, not on the capacity of the patient, but upon the effect that a mental disorder can have upon the patient risking damage to their own well-being, or to the well-being of others. The relationship between the two areas is not always clear.


2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 241-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Davies ◽  
Claire Dimond

SummaryThe UK Mental Health Act 1983 does not apply in prison. The legal framework for the care and treatment of people with mental illness in prison is provided by the Mental Capacity Act 2005. We raise dilemmas about its use. We highlight how assessing best interests and defining harm involves making challenging judgements. How best interests and harm are interpreted has a potentially significant impact on clinical practice within a prison context.


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