Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2019

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The proposed change would make advance healthcare directives clearer and more powerful for people receiving mental health treatment or detained under criminal insanity laws. It says such directives should generally be followed even where treatment is governed by the Mental Health Act, while keeping some limits for people detained in designated centres or under conditional discharge orders. It matters because it strengthens patients’ rights and self-determination in mental health care.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to amend the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 relating to treatment of patients under the Mental Health Act 2001 and the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006; to improve the provision of mental health services; to promote the rights of persons subject to the Mental Health Act 2001 and the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006; and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 20 April 2020