Mental Health Bill

EDM number 1795 in 2001-02, proposed by Liam Fox on 22/10/2002.

That this House expresses grave disquiet at the curtailment of liberty involved in proposals in the Government's draft Mental Health Bill, which would permit the detention of individuals who had not committed a criminal offence, nor were suffering from a mental disorder requiring therapeutic treatment, further considers that the wide extension of powers of compulsion to patients in the community will impose unfair burdens on staff, damage relationships between patients and clinicians and dissuade patients from seeking help; congratulates the Mental Health Alliance on their campaign against the draft Bill; and calls on the Government to withdraw it and come forward with a Bill that meet the need for modern procedures, whilst recognising the right of users of mental health services to prompt assessment and dignified treatment, which is the least restrictive and invasive that is appropriate and necessary.

This motion has been signed by a total of 59 MPs.