Blackstone's Guide to the Mental Health Act 2007

This new Blackstone's Guide provides the full text of the Mental Health Act, together with an expert chapter by chapter narrative clearly explaining the changes the Act makes to the Mental Health Act 1983. Key changes introduced by the Mental Health Act 2007 include:-

• A new definition of 'mental disorder'
• The abolishment of existing classifications of 'mental illness', 'psychopathic disorder', 'mental impairment' and 'severe mental impairment'
• The abolishment of the existing exclusions for prosmicuity, immoral conduct, sexual deviancy etc.
• A new requirement that 'appropriate treatment' be available for all forms of mental disorder before detention may be authorised, whilst removing the 'treatability' requirement for patients suffering from psychopathic disorder
• A new power to control and treat patients in the community
• Amendments to the 'nearest relative' provisions to bring them into line with the ECHR
• A new framework of safeguards for incapacitated de facti detained 'Bournewood' patients (to amend the Mental Capacity Act)

The narrative clearly explains how the Act amends the1983 Act, analyses its impact on the Mental Capacity Act, and discusses the human rights implications of compulsory detention and treatment by reference to key cases such as Bournewood, IH, and Von Brandenburg. The Guide's accessible and clear layout makes it an ideal quick reference text, and the appendices include a copy of the Mental Health Act 2007.