‘Too many’ mentally ill in jails – BBC News

Posted February 4th, 2009 in mental health, news, prisons by sally

“Thousands of people with mental health problems are ending up in jail rather than receiving treatment, the Prison Reform Trust has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th February 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

R (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted January 28th, 2009 in Crown Prosecution Service, law reports, mental health, prosecutions, victims by sally

R (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2009] EWHC 106 (Admin); [2009] WLR (D) 25

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

Posted January 28th, 2009 in Crown Prosecution Service, mental health, news, prosecutions, victims by sally

“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.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th January 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cheltenham director Christine Laird sued for ‘lying about illness’ – The Times

Posted January 28th, 2009 in mental health, misrepresentation, news by sally

“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.”

Full story

The Times, 28th January 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Home fined over resident’s death – BBC News

Posted January 9th, 2009 in care homes, elderly, mental health, news by sally

“The owners of an Oxford care home have been fined £80,000 following the death of an 82-year-old woman with dementia.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th January 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Damning death verdicts called for – BBC News

Posted January 9th, 2009 in hospitals, mental health, news by sally

“A health watchdog should issue damning verdicts on six deaths of vulnerable NHS patients, a charity has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th January 2009

SOurce: www.bbc.co.uk

Vulnerable people to get better protection – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 18th, 2008 in mental health, press releases by sally

“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.”

Full press release 

Ministry of Justice, 17th December 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Savage v South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – WLR Daily

Posted December 16th, 2008 in hospitals, human rights, law reports, mental health, suicide by sally

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

Posted December 11th, 2008 in hospitals, human rights, law reports, mental health, suicide by sally

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

Posted December 10th, 2008 in hospitals, human rights, mental health, negligence, news, suicide by sally

“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. ”

Full story

The Independent, 10th December 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

R (DB) v Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust – WLR Daily

Posted December 4th, 2008 in detention, hospital orders, law reports, mental health by sally

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

Posted December 2nd, 2008 in human rights, judicial review, law reports, mental health, prisons by sally

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

Posted November 28th, 2008 in elderly, mental health, news, rape, sentencing by sally

“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.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th November 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pensioner locked up indefinitely after beating wife to death – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 17th, 2008 in diminished responsibility, homicide, mental health, news, sentencing by sally

“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.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th November 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Pensioner who left £2.34 million estate to RSPCA ‘had psychiatric problems’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 11th, 2008 in mental health, news, wills by sally

“An elderly woman who bequeathed her £2.34 million estate to the RSPCA had psychiatric problems at the time, the High Court heard.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11November 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fears over new drug orders for mental health patients – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2008 in medical treatment, mental health, news by sally

“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.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd October 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Schizophrenic killed neighbour he wrongly believed was a paedophile – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 22nd, 2008 in homicide, mental health, news, sentencing by sally

“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.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 22nd October 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Policeman still seeking compensation after 22 years – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 20th, 2008 in damages, mental health, news, police by sally

“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.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th October 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Public Guardian Board open meeting – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 10th, 2008 in mental health, powers of attorney, press releases by sally

“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.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 8th October 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

New mental health powers threaten rights, claim lawyers – The Independent

Posted September 29th, 2008 in mental health, news by sally

“Lawyers are lining up to challenge the legality of the new Mental Health Act as fears about the imminent new powers grow among patients.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th September 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk