Mental Health Law Policy and Practice

by Bartlett, Peter; Sandland, Ralph

• ISBN13: 9780199278275
• ISBN10: 019927827X
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-05-17
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Written by two leading specialists in mental health law, this book provides a detailed overview of the law and the socio-legal, historical, sociological, and cultural issues that surround it. Mental health law, at its heart, involves the forcible confinement and medication of some of society's most vulnerable people. With reference to recent cases and new legislation, Peter Bartlett and Ralph Sandland analyze the legal structure and functions of the mental health system, the problems inherent in characterizing mental health law, and the social and human rights issues of those who suffer from mental illness The legal issues described contain implied premises as to what it is to be a citizen, what the role of the state is for the vulnerable, and what the relative roles of law and medicine are in the regulation of control and deviance. Mental health law is an area of considerable legal and social complexity, and the authors challenge readers to question the system and the policies that have been developed. Online Resource Centre * Updates * Web links

Author Biography

Peter Bartlett obtained his doctorate in 1993, and joined the School of Law at the University of Nottingham, where in April 2005 he was appointed to the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Chair in Mental Health Law. His major research and teaching interests lie in the areas of socio-legal history (particularly as it relates to queer studies and to mental health), and health care law (particularly mental health law).
Ralph Sandland teaches in the areas of family law, health care law and criminal justice. His research interests span these areas, as well as jurisprudence, feminist theory, and postmodern philosophy. Ralph is also a Co-ordinating Editor of the Journal Social and Legal Studies

Table of Contents

Conceptualising mental health law

Problems of definition

An overview of the contemporary mental health system

Admission to hospital

The process of civil confinement

Mental disorder and criminal justice

Treatment in hospital

Leaving hospital

Control, care, and community

Mental capacity (I): broad issues and basic concepts

The Mental Capacity Act 2005

Legal responses and advocacy for clients

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.