Mental Health Bill

EDM number 12 in 2002-03, proposed by Liam Fox on 13/11/2002.

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; considers that the wide extension of powers of compulsion to patients in the community will impose unfair burdens on staff and 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 meets 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 60 MPs.