A Conversation for Innocent until proven guilty?

Society

Post 1

Trout Montague

Society by definition is not free, nor should it be. It is restrained by the ethics and moral codes of that society. Policing the state is done for the good of the people inside it - the sooner we shake of the shackles of idealist




Dr Montague Trout
The Organcheese Academy
- a seat of learning for the man atop the clapham omnibus


Society

Post 2

Trout Montague

sorry - clicked the button by mistake


Society

Post 3

Mikael

In my opinion the society as we know it, has been built under a long long period of time. I think it could become very dangerous to live in a society where just because common people does not say anything, society takes it for granted that it is okay?


Society

Post 4

Trout Montague

But the people are the society. Without the people there is no society. If one lives in society, one should be willing (if able) to contribute to the well-being of that society. If one is opposed to that position (and acts accordingly) then one should expect to be punished. The ulitmate punishment is to be cast out or killed. Imprisonment is a society's way of applying its own moral values to those who do not wish to comply with those values (criminals).


Society

Post 5

Mikael

I agree to what you are saying in loose terms, but the problem I have tried to raise is about the "Mental Health Act of 1983".

I don't know if I can put the text from the BBC Q&A regarding the above act, but I'll try:

"
CATEGORIES TV RADIO COMMUNICATE WHERE I LIVE INDEX SEARCH






You are in: Health

News Front Page
World
UK
England
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Politics
Business
Entertainment
Science/Nature
Technology
Health
Medical notes
Education
-------------
Talking Point
-------------
Country Profiles
In Depth
-------------
Programmes
-------------








SERVICES
Daily E-mail
News Ticker
Mobile/PDAs
-------------

Text Only
Feedback
Help



EDITIONS
Change to World

Tuesday, 20 August, 2002, 18:08 GMT 19:08 UK
Q&A: Mental health 'sectioning'


The Mental Health Act 1983 is intended to help doctors deal with patients who may be mentally disordered.
Part of the Act makes possible the compulsory detention and treatment of patients.

What are these powers, and what do they mean for patients?

Who can be 'sectioned' under the Mental Health Act 1983?

People with different types of defined "mental disorder" can be admitted to hospital against their will under the Act.

These include those with "severe mental impairment", "psychopathic disorder" or "mental illness".

What happens during the sectioning process?

A patient is sectioned so that they are no longer a potential threat to themselves or other people.

It enables doctors to administer treatment and also assess the extent of the patient's mental disorder.

Under section two of the Act, a patient can be admitted to hospital for 28 days to undergo a full psychiatric assessment.

At the end of the 28-day period, if the medical recommendation is for the stay in hospital to be extended, a further six months can be given under section three of the Act.

Generally a patient can only be sectioned if two doctors and a social worker or a close relative of the patient believe it is necessary.

One of these doctors is usually a psychiatrist. The other is often a doctor who knows the patient well.

An approved social worker also has to involved in the assessment, and has to agree that being sectioned is the best course of action for that patient.

The social worker then makes the application for a place in secure accommodation for the patient.

What rights does the patient have during this time?

Some treatments can be given to people detained under various sections of the Act, even without their consent.

This is possible if the treatment is believed absolutely necessary to prevent deterioration in the patient's condition while they are in hospital.

Some more powerful treatments and operations, however, require an additional court order under the Act.

These include any operations which destroy brain tissue or aim to stop parts of the brain functioning - such as a lobotomy - and the surgical implantation of sex hormones in order to reduce the male sex drive.

Can a patient or his or her relative appeal against detention?

A patient can be discharged from detention at any time if the doctors believe that it is no longer needed.

Every patient should have a named "responsible medical officer" who has a duty to keep an eye on progress.

In addition, the patient themselves can appeal for release to the NHS trust which is detaining them.

The "nearest relative" also has a right to "order the discharge" of a patient, but the doctors can block this by producing evidence that the patient still represents a risk to the public or him or herself. If this happens, the relative cannot try again for another six months.

Finally, there is a right of appeal to the Mental Health Review Tribunal, which can order discharge after a formal tribunal hearing.

However, there have been frequent complaints that this process is extremely slow-moving.

How often are these powers used?

Between 1989 and 1990, 16,300 were given compulsory treatment against their will.

In 2000/2001, 26,707 were formally admitted against their will, in addition to 19,570 who went voluntarily to hospital in the first instance but who were then sectioned.

See also:


20 Aug 02 | England
Caretaker charged with girls' murders

Top Health stories now:


Pregnancy after womb transplant

Ginkgo 'does not improve memory'

Caffeine clue to fighting cancer

'Mutant' head lice treatment hope

Hospital suspends chief executive

Warning over cancer websites

Private hospital deal 'on course'

Patient raises cash for heart machine


Links to more Health stories are at the foot of the page.




E-mail this story to a friend


Links to more Health stories

In This Section Pregnancy after womb transplant Ginkgo 'does not improve memory' Caffeine clue to fighting cancer 'Mutant' head lice treatment hope Hospital suspends chief executive Warning over cancer websites Private hospital deal 'on course' Patient raises cash for heart machine Doctors call for patient 'fines' Obese people not jolly, says research 'Flu jabs for all' demand GPs 'refusing new patients' 'We GPs cannot cope' Honey and nuts fight cholesterol Legionnaires' source officially traced Detecting heart disease early Q&A: Mental health 'sectioning' Health service revamp 'in chaos' Inside Rampton Hospital



^^ Back to top

News Front Page | World | UK | England | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales |
Politics | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology |
Health | Education | Talking Point | Country Profiles | In Depth |
Programmes


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To BBC Sport>> | To BBC Weather>> | To BBC World Service>>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© MMII | News Sources | Privacy "

I am sorry for the format, but this is the issue I am referring to in particular. You can go to BBC news and see it in html.

Best Regards



Key: Complain about this post

Write an Entry

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."

Write an entry
Read more