The inherent jurisdiction: where are we now? – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Posted December 4th, 2012 in jurisdiction, mental health, news by sally

“That very significant vestiges of the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction to grant declaratory and injunctive relief have survived the implementation of the MCA 2005 is now clear. However, what is very much less clear is precisely: (1) how far the inherent jurisdiction has survived; and (2) how the High Court can or should exercise its powers under the inherent jurisdiction in respect of those who can only be afforded protection by way of its exercise. Cases decided since the beginning of the year have perhaps made the answers less rather than more clear, and this note seeks to draw together some of the threads, as much to provoke discussion as to offer solutions. It concludes with a brief discussion of the prospects for statutory reform in the area in the shape of the draft Care and Support Bill.”

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Thirty Nine Essex Street, December 2012

Source: www.39essex.com

Triumph of substance over form – Hardwicke Chambers

“In Pieretti v. LB Enfield [2011] 2 All ER 642 the Court of Appeal held that a local authority in exercising its powers under Part VII Housing Act 1996 (Homelessness) was carrying out a ‘function’ for the purposes of s.49A. It was therefore an obligation on the Local Authority to have ‘due regard’ to the factors set out in the section and, in the case of homelessness, in particular to have ‘due regard’ to ‘the need to take steps to take account of disabled persons’ disabilities’. Moreover, this duty arose irrespective of whether or not the applicant, or their advisers, had raised disability as an issue.”

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Hardwicke Chambers, 30th November 2012

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Regina v Nursing – WLR Daily

Posted December 3rd, 2012 in appeals, crime, law reports, mental health, negligence, wilful neglect by sally

Regina v Nursing [2012] EWCA Crim 2521; [2012] WLR (D) 360

“The offence of wilfully neglecting a person who lacked capacity, contrary to section 44(2) of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, was not legally uncertain. Neglect was not wilful if a defendant’s acts or omissions were or might have been motivated by the wish or sense of obligation to respect the autonomy of the person concerned.”

WLR Daily, 30th November 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Regina (L) v West London Mental Health NHS Trust – WLR Daily

Posted December 3rd, 2012 in detention, duty of care, hospitals, law reports, mental health by sally

Regina (L) v West London Mental Health NHS Trust [2012] EWHC 3200 (Admin); [2012] WLR (D) 357

“The common law duty to act fairly was engaged when a decision was made as to whether to transfer a patient detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 from a medium to a high security hospital.”

WLR Daily, 13th November 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Concerns raised over number of children held in police cells under Mental Health Act – The Independent

Posted November 19th, 2012 in children, detention, mental health, news, police by sally

“Police officers often face ‘no realistic option’ other than locking children as young as 11 years old in cells under mental health laws, it has emerged.”

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The Independent, 18th November 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Criminologist Dr Silvia Casale to lead investigation in to the death in police custody of mentally ill man Sean Rigg – The Independent

Posted November 13th, 2012 in complaints, death in custody, inquiries, mental health, news, police by sally

“An international expert in the prevention of torture and inhuman treatment of prisoners is to lead an independent review into the way the death of a mentally ill man in police custody was investigated by the police watchdog.”

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The Independent, 12th November 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Council ‘failed to consider differing needs of elderly and dementia patients when setting care home fees’ – Daily Telegraph

“A group of care homes has won a legal challenge against their local council, after accusing it of setting care fees too low and putting elderly and frail people at serious risk.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th November 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Eye-gouge man Shane Jenkin loses appeal over Tina Nash attack – BBC News

“A man jailed for life for blinding his girlfriend by gouging out her eyes has had an appeal against his sentence refused.”

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BBC News, 6th November 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Interface between the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Posted October 30th, 2012 in guardianship, mental health, news by sally

“There are, in one sense, multiple interfaces between the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005: those concerning medical treatment, welfare and finances as well as restriction and deprivation of liberty. This paper focuses upon the latter since there is a confusing line of authority developing on the topic, and because there remain a number of questions to be answered and problems to be solved. It is fair to say that today’s talk perhaps raises more questions than it provides answers.”

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Thirty Nine Essex Street, 15th October 2012

Source: www.39essex.com

End of life – where are we now? – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Posted October 30th, 2012 in assisted suicide, children, euthanasia, mental health, news by sally

“Since the multitude of reflections provoked by the case of W v M and others [2011] EWHC 2443 (CoP) at the end of last year, there have been yet more difficult end of life decisions for the Courts this year. The tension between concepts of autonomy and dignity on the one hand, and respect for the sanctity of life and the duty to take steps to preserve it on the other, remain real and not easily resolved.”

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Thirty Nine Essex Street, 24th October 2012

Source: www. 39essex.com

Mental health sectioning error – BBC News

Posted October 30th, 2012 in detention, doctors, legislation, mental health, news, retrospectivity by sally

“Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says urgent retrospective legislation is needed to correct a ‘technical error’ affecting up to 5,000 patients sectioned under the Mental Health Act since 2002.”

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BBC News, 29th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Young offenders should be screened for brain injuries – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2012 in criminal justice, mental health, news, young offenders by sally

“A report published on Friday makes some surprising and rather alarming claims. Apparently, 60% of young people in custody say they have experienced a traumatic brain injury. To put this figure into perspective, the incidence of brain injury is typically higher in the population under 25 than in older people, but recent research cited in the report suggests it is higher still for under-25s who find themselves involved in the criminal justice system.”

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The Guardian, 19th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gary McKinnon’s ordeal is over – now put a stop to all needless extraditions – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2012 in computer crime, extradition, human rights, mental health, news by sally

“Theresa May is to be congratulated for halting McKinnon’s extradition, but she must legislate to prevent future injustice.”

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The Guardian, 18th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Litigant in person ‘not entitled to indulgence’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 18th, 2012 in courts, litigants in person, mental health, news by sally

“The Court of Appeal has told a self-represented litigant that his lack of legal understanding does not entitle him to ‘extra indulgence’.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 18th October 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Gary McKinnon: Theresa May had no choice but to use human rights grounds – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2012 in computer crime, extradition, human rights, mental health, news by sally

“Theresa May must have found it galling to use the despised Human Rights Act as a get-out-of-jail-free card for Gary McKinnon. But there was no alternative to her using article 3 of the human rights convention, which says that no one shall be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

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The Guardian, 16th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gary McKinnon extradition to US blocked by Theresa May – BBC News

Posted October 16th, 2012 in computer crime, extradition, human rights, mental health, news by sally

“British computer hacker Gary McKinnon will not be extradited to the US, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced.”

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BBC News, 16th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman who does not believe she has cancer can undergo operation – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 16th, 2012 in cancer, Court of Protection, health, medical treatment, mental health, news by sally

“A schizophrenic woman who does not believe she has cancer can now undergo a risky operation against her wishes that could save her life, on the orders of a senior judge.”

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Daily Telegraph, 15th October 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Back in the spotlight: the detention of mentally ill asylum seekers – UK Human Rights Blog

“The High Court has ruled that the failure to consider the continued detention of a mentally ill failed asylum seeker in accordance with immigration policy rendered his detention unlawful in part.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th October 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Can the Court Protect Vulnerable Adults who have Capacity? – Family Law Week

Posted September 28th, 2012 in duress, jurisdiction, local government, mental health, news by sally

“Moira Sofaer, barrister and mediator, of Goldsmith Chambers, considers the protection afforded by the courts to vulnerable adults who are outside the ambit of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in the light of the Court of Appeal’s judgment in DL.”

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Family Law Week, 27th September 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Met’s mental illness custody cases reviewed – BBC News

Posted September 24th, 2012 in complaints, custody, inquests, mental health, news, ombudsmen, police by sally

“The Metropolitan Police has commissioned an independent review into how it responds to people with mental health conditions.”

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BBC News, 24th September 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk