Extending section 12 approval under the Mental Health Act to professions other than medicine

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Abstract

Applications for detention under civil sections of the England and Wales Mental Health Act 1983 require at least one recommendation from a registered medical practitioner who is approved under section 12 of the Act. The Mental Health Act 2007 introduced multi-professional approved clinicians who may act as a patient's responsible clinician with responsibilities that include renewal of detention for treatment. Approved clinicians who are medical practitioners are automatically approved for section 12 purposes, whereas other approved clinicians are not. It is argued in this paper that this inconsistency is illogical, has implications for patient care and needs to be remedied.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)323-326
Number of pages4
JournalBJPsych Bulletin
Volume48
Issue number6
Early online date11 Mar 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2024

Keywords

  • Section 12 approval
  • England and Wales Mental Health Act
  • objective medical expertise
  • approved clinicians
  • deprivation of liberty safeguards

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