‘Too many’ mentally ill in jails – BBC News
“Thousands of people with mental health problems are ending up in jail rather than receiving treatment, the Prison Reform Trust has said.”
BBC News, 4th February 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: mental health
R (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily
“The decision to abandon a prosecution because of the victim’s mental instability involved a misapplication of the Code for Crown Prosecutors, was irrational and was a violation of the victim’s rights under art 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.”
WLR Daily, 27th January 2009
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
Mentally ill victim was failed by CPS – The Independent
“A decision by prosecutors to drop a serious criminal assault case because the victim, who had half an ear bitten off, suffered mental health problems, has been severely criticised by High Court judges.”
The Independent, 28th January 2009
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Cheltenham director Christine Laird sued for ‘lying about illness’ – The Times
“A local authority accused its former managing director of fraudulent behaviour and deceit yesterday, claiming that she withheld her history of depressive illness when applying for the job.”
The Times, 28th January 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Home fined over resident’s death – BBC News
“The owners of an Oxford care home have been fined £80,000 following the death of an 82-year-old woman with dementia.”
BBC News, 9th January 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Damning death verdicts called for – BBC News
“A health watchdog should issue damning verdicts on six deaths of vulnerable NHS patients, a charity has said.”
BBC News, 9th January 2009
SOurce: www.bbc.co.uk
Vulnerable people to get better protection – Ministry of Justice
“Vulnerable adults who lack mental capacity will benefit from a joined-up approach in responding to concerns about those taking decisions on their behalf and the way they are protected from abuse, according to guidelines published by the Office of the Public Guardian today.”
Ministry of Justice, 17th December 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Savage v South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – WLR Daily
Savage v South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust [2008] UKHL 74; [2008] WLR (D) 386
“Where there was a real and immediate risk of a patient detained in a mental hospital committing suicide, art 2 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as scheduled to the Human Rights Act 1998, imposed an operational obligation on the medical authorities to do all that could reasonably be expected of them to prevent him doing so.”
WLR Daily, 15th December 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
Savage v South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – Times Law Reports
Savage v South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
House of Lords
“The right to life protected by article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights imposed an operational obligation on medical authorities to do all that could reasonably be expected of them to prevent a patient detained in a mental hospital who was known to be at a real and immediate risk of committing suicide from doing so.”
The Times, 11th December 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
Daughter wins legal battle over mother’s suicide – The Independent
“The daughter of a mentally-ill woman who walked out of a hospital and threw herself under a train has won the final round of her battle for the right to sue the local health trust for damages. ”
The Independent, 10th December 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
R (DB) v Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust – WLR Daily
R (DB) v Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust [2008] EWCA Civ 1354; [2008] WLR (D) 375
“The effect of an order for the admission and detention of an offender in a hospital, within s 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983, was limited by s 40 to the period of 28 days from the date of the making of the order. A subsequent amendment of the order did not authorise admission after the 28-day period in the original order.”
WLR Daily, 3rd December 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
Regina (JL) (a Youth) v Secretary of State for Justice – Times Law Reports
Regina (JL) (a Youth) v Secretary of State for Justice
House of Lords
“A near-suicide in custody which resulted in the prisoner’s mental incapacity triggered the state’s obligation to institute an independent initial investigation which complied with article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, protecting the right to life.”
The Times, 2nd December 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
Senile rapist, 82, avoids prison – BBC News
“An 82-year-old rapist with dementia has avoided a jail sentence for an attack he committed in 1993 because of his diminished mental state.”
BBC News, 27th November 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Pensioner locked up indefinitely after beating wife to death – Daily Telegraph
“A pensioner who beat his cancer-stricken wife of 30 years to death as she lay in bed has been locked up in a secure unit indefinitely.”
Daily Telegraph, 14th November 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Pensioner who left £2.34 million estate to RSPCA ‘had psychiatric problems’ – Daily Telegraph
“An elderly woman who bequeathed her £2.34 million estate to the RSPCA had psychiatric problems at the time, the High Court heard.”
Daily Telegraph, 11November 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Fears over new drug orders for mental health patients – The Guardian
“Campaigners have expressed concern about the potential misuse of new powers for the compulsory treatment of people with mental illness that come into force in England today.”
The Guardian, 3rd October 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Schizophrenic killed neighbour he wrongly believed was a paedophile – Daily Telegraph
“A schizophrenic who stabbed a neighbour to death in front of his family in the mistaken belief that he was a paedophile has been detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.”
Daily Telegraph, 22nd October 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Policeman still seeking compensation after 22 years – Daily Telegraph
“A policeman who was forced out of his job 22 years ago, after being falsely labelled mentally unstable, is still battling for compensation, it has emerged.”
Daily Telegraph, 20th October 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Public Guardian Board open meeting – Ministry of Justice
“Justice Minister Bridget Prentice has given a speech at the first open meeting of the Public Guardian Board, a body set up under the Mental Capacity Act to scrutinise and review the work of the Office of the Public Guardian.”
Ministry of Justice, 8th October 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
New mental health powers threaten rights, claim lawyers – The Independent
“Lawyers are lining up to challenge the legality of the new Mental Health Act as fears about the imminent new powers grow among patients.”
The Independent, 28th September 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
