Different laws, same principles: mental health and incapacity legislation across the UK
- Donald Lyons is an old age psychiatrist with a long-standing interest in mental health and incapacity law. He has been Director of Scotland’s Mental Welfare Commission since 2003. The Commission monitors the operation of mental health legislation in Scotland and acts generally to safeguard the rights and welfare of all people with a mental disorder.
- Correspondence Dr Donald Lyons, Director, Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5HE, UK. Email: Donald.lyons{at}mwcscot.org.uk
Abstract
England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are all at different stages in developing their mental health legislation. All jurisdictions have encountered problems in interpretation and operation of the various acts. As an introduction to a series of articles to appear in Advances on mental health and incapacity law, this editorial offers a commentary on some of the critical issues and suggests some key principles that everyone should follow in order to provide care and treatment that accords with best legal and ethical practice.
- © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2010
