Human rights: the right to receive treatment and care

In the debates leading to the redesigning of the Mental Health Act in 1983 in the United Kingdom much pressure was exerted by human rights activists and other parliamentary pressure groups to ensure that patients could not be detained or treated 'against their will' without considerable--and at times undesirable--safeguards. This has led to difficulties over 'informed consent' and the setting up of the Mental Health Act Commission. The following examples are given: (a) A case dealing with injuries sustained by a patient while absent from the hospital while under a detention order. (b) The inability for psychotics to receive delayed release injections whilst in community care. (c) The loss of facilities for admission, and the resulting problems of homelessness arising from the hospital closure policy.