Mental Health Legislation Flashcards
Why may some treatment for mentally ill people be involuntary?
Severely unwell
Lost touch with reality
Risk to self or others
What are some general criticisms of involuntary treatment?
Ill-liberal
Poorly compatible with human rights norms
Unnecessary for most patients
Counterproductive for some patients
Practical problems in administering treatments
What are some ethical problems with involuntary treatment?
Non-maleficence
Autonomy
Paternalism
Non-discrimination
What legislation governs mental health in Scotland?
Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, modified in 2015 "MHA" Public Health (Scotland) Act 2008
What is the purpose of mental health law?
Power to provide compulsory care
Rights and safeguards to make sure those powers are used appropriately
What are the principles of the MHA?
Non-discrimination Equality Respect for diversity Reciprocity Informal care Participation Respect for carers Least restrictive alternative Benefit Child welfare
How does the MHA define mental disorder?
Any mental illness, personality disorder or learning disability however caused or manifested
What are the 3 main pieces of legislation for mental disorders?
Adults with Incapacity Act (Scotland) 2000
MHA
Adult Support & Protection (Scotland) Act 2007
What powers does the MHA give?
Civil compulsory powers
To detain
To assess
To treat
What are MHA powers determined by?
An approved medical practitioner
Mental Health Officer (MHO)
The court
Can patients under the age of 18 years still be detained?
Yes
Need child/adolescent specialist
What are some civil compulsory powers?
Emergency detention certificate (EDC)
Short-term detention certificate (STDC)
Compulsory treatment order (CTO)
Nurses holding power
How long does an EDC allow detention for?
Up to 72 hours
How long does an STDC allow detention for?
Up to 28 days
How long does a CTO allow detention for?
Up to 6 months