Mental Health Act 1983.

After reviewing the history of mental health legislation in England,\nHamilton discusses some provisions of the new Mental Health Act that went into\neffect in September 1983. Among the issues pertaining to involuntary\ncommitment covered by the act are the terminology and definition of mental\nillness; criteria for emergency admission, admission for assessment, and\nlength of detention; patients' rights; mental health review tribunals; and\nconsent to treatment. Two of the more controversial provisions are the\nreinstitution of a mental health commission with protective functions for\ndetained patients, and a mandatory second opinion for certain forms of\ntreatment. (KIE abstract)