1. COUNTERBLAST: The Mental Health Act 2007 (A Hard Act to Follow).
- Author
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PRINS, HERSCHEL
- Subjects
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MENTAL health laws , *LEGISLATIVE bills , *JUDGES , *ADMINISTRATIVE courts , *PUBLIC service commissions , *PARLIAMENTARY practice , *CRIMINAL justice policy , *MENTAL illness - Abstract
The article discusses the Mental Health Act 2007 in relation to Mental Health Act in 1959 and 1983 in the U.S. It is stated that the 1959 Act introduced several important innovations such as the power for magistrates and the introduction of Mental Health Review Tribunals. It also introduced definitions of mental disorder and its sub-categories. Meanwhile, the 1983 Act launched the Mental Health Act Commission with the significant function to examine complaints from detained patients. Both Bills received considerable mauling in the parliamentary process which suggested an analogy akin to that of matrimony. Some forensic aspects of the 2007 Act were also presented. It made many useful amendments to previous legislation.
- Published
- 2008
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