A detained mental patient sought to challenge a decision by his RMO that he should receive anti-psychotic medication, despite his refusal to consent, and to challenge a certificate issued by the SOAD.
Held: Where a mental patient sought to challenge by judicial review the imposition of treatment without his consent, it was open to the court to investigate the merits of the decision to impose treatment, and it was not restricted to testing the reasonableness of the decision. This would include the power of the court to require the attendance and examination of medical witnesses. Had the patient proceeded by way of a claim for damages for assault that power would have existed. If the patient’s human rights were to be respected, an investigation of the merits must be allowed.
Judges:
Lord Justice Simon Brown, Lord Justice Brooke and Lady Justice Hale
Citations:
Gazette 15-Nov-2001, [2001] EWCA Civ 1545, [2002] 1 WLR 419, Times 02-Nov-2001, (2002) Lloyd’s Rep Med 41, (2002) UKHRR 390, (2002) 65 BMLR 15
Links:
Statutes:
Mental Health Act 1983 58(3)(b), European Convention on Human Rights 6
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Cited by:
Applied – Regina (G) v Ealing London Borough Council and Others QBD 28-Feb-2002
Nothing in the new rules prevented the court from allowing cross examination of witnesses in judicial review cases, though the procedure does not lend itself to cases with a high degree of factual debate. The court has a wide discretion, and the . .
Cited – Wooder, Regina (on the Application of) v Feggetter and Dr Grah CA 25-Apr-2002
The patient challenged the treatment given to him against his will as a detained mental patient. He said the opinion of the second doctor as required under the Act, had not been put into writing.
Held: Following Wilkinson, which allowed a . .
Cited – Regina (N) v Dr M and Others CA 6-Dec-2002
The patient refused consent to treatment in the form of injection of drugs, which her psychiatrists considered to be necessary.
Held: Treatment of this nature infringed the patients rights, and was not to be ordered without clear reason. The . .
Cited – PS, Regina (on the Application of) v Responsible Medical Officer, Dr G and others Admn 10-Oct-2003
The claimant had been compulsorily detained under the Act. He complained that the detention and compulsory medication infringed his rights, and amongst other things breached his religious beliefs.
Held: This was an exceptional case requiring . .
Cited – B, Regina (on the Application of) v Ashworth Hospital Authority HL 17-Mar-2005
The House was asked whether a patient detained for treatment under the 1983 Act can be treated against his will for any mental disorder from which he is suffering or only for the particular form of mental disorder from which he is classified as . .
Cited – MH v Secretary of State for the Department of Health and others HL 20-Oct-2005
The appellant, detained for assessment under section 2, was too disabled to make an application to the court on her own behalf. After a dispute between her mother and the medical officer over her treatment, an application was made to the county . .
Cited – B, Regina (on the Application Of) v SS (Responsible Medical Officer) and others CA 26-Jan-2006
The applicant had been detained after a diagnosis of Bipolar Affective Disorder and convictions for rape. He had applied for discharge, but before the hearing the doctor had said he no longer opposed his release. After the hearing but before being . .
Cited – T-Mobile (Uk) Ltd. and Another v Office of Communications CA 12-Dec-2008
The claimant telecoms companies objected to a proposed scheme for future licensing of available spectrum. The scheme anticipated a bias in favour of auctioniung such content. It was not agreed whether any challenge to the decision should be by way . .
Cited – Al-Sweady and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Defence Admn 2-Oct-2009
The claimant’s son had died whilst in the custody of the British Armed Forces in Iraq. His uncle now claimed that his human rights had been infringed. The case ‘raised a fundamental issue of jurisdiction under Article 1 of the ECHR because if the . .
Cited – A, Regina (on the Application of) v London Borough of Croydon SC 26-Nov-2009
The applicants sought asylum, and, saying that they were children under eighteen, sought also the assistance of the local authority. Social workers judged them to be over eighteen and assistance was declined.
Held: The claimants’ appeals . .
Cited – Q, Regina (on The Application of) v Q Constabulary and Another Admn 17-Mar-2011
The claimant renewed his request for an order against the defendant that he should be given a place on a witness protection scheme. He had given evidence for the prosecution in a gangland murder trial. A risk assessment had identified a risk ‘real . .
Cited – S v Airedale National Health Service Trust QBD 22-Aug-2002
The patient had been detained, and then secluded within the mental hospital for 11 days. He claimed to have been subjected to inhuman treatment, and false imprisonment.
Held: His claim failed. The policy allowed the authority to confine him to . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Health, Human Rights, Administrative
Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.166719