A Clinician's Brief Guide to the Mental Health Act

This is a "how to" book. It is designed as an easy to read and interesting guide to understanding those parts of the Mental Health Act 1983 which clinicians need in their daily practice. It covers civil and court detentions, community treatment orders, consent to treatment and giving written and oral evidence for Mental Health Tribunals. It also includes relevant aspects of the Human Rights Act 1998, the Mental Capacity Act (including the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards) 2005 and illustrative case law. Whilst it should be of particular interest to doctors seeking approval under section 12 (MHA 1983) and doctors and other clinicians wishing to become Approved Clinicians in England or Wales, it will aid understanding of the processes for all users of the Mental Health Act. Written by a clinician with many years experience of using the legislation in his clinical practice. It is written using the language of clinicians. It includes practical answers to many of the questions faced by the author in his work and asked of him during his many training courses for section 12 and Approved Clinician training. It includes practicable advice in relation to detaining patients, treating them and giving written and oral evidence to mental health tribunals.