The 'mentally disordered' provisions of the New South Wales Mental Health Act 1990: their ethical standing and effect on services.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To consider whether the mentally disordered provisions of the NSW Mental Health Act 1990 can be ethically justified and whether any departure from the usual justification for compulsory care comes at a cost.

CONCLUSIONS:
The shaky ethical standing of these provisions has encouraged mental health services in NSW to play a role in controlling unacceptable behaviour, even in the absence of mental illness. This places the Act in an exceptional position in comparison to other Western Mental Health Acts. It is causing increasing strain on services as well as having unforseen consequences on those detained.

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Author information

Author/s: Patfield, Martyn (M);

Affiliation: Greater Western Area Health Services, Bloomfield Hospital, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia. martyn.patfield(-atsign-)mwahs.nsw.gov.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (Australas Psychiatry), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Sep; vol 14 (issue 3) : pp 263-6

Dates: Created 2006/08/22; Completed 2007/01/03; Revised 2007/07/05;

PMID: 16923035, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Australas Psychiatry. 2007 Feb;15(1):77-9. (PMID: 17484085)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Ethics, Professional
Forensic Psychiatry - ethics; legislation & jurisprudence
Humans

Mental Disorders - psychology
Mental Health Services - ethics; legislation & jurisprudence; organization & administration
New South Wales

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