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I'm freaking out here. Not like me to go into panic mode over a news item, but anyway... You know the saga about the draft Mental Health Bill in the UK, which includes possibilities about detaining people if they don't take their medication?(see http://society.guardian.co.uk/mentalhealth...,836476,00.html for a Q&A on the Mental Health Bill)Well, I just read a news story which was highlighting concerns raised by one group that the definition of 'mental illness' was too broad. The definition in the Bill is:
http://society.guardian.co.uk/mentalhealth...,836476,00.html[/QUOTE The news report was commenting that this could include conditions such as epilepsy and diabeties. Well, couldn't it include M.E/CFS as well? I mean, cognitive dysfunction is one of the main symptoms of M.E/CFS, and also Fibromyalgia for that matter. Could patients be detained against their will if they refuse to participate in 'treatments' such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?Here's some info: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs...,838023,00.htmlquote: "any disability or disorder of the mind or brain, which results in impairment or disturbance of mental functioning".http://society.guardian.co.uk/mentalhealth...,836476,00.html
I really feel that as moderator I shouldn't be posting something so alarmist, but I needed to talk to you guys. I'm totally freaked by this. I'm sorry if any of you feel this post is inappropriate, I will delete it if you do feel that way.quote:Mental health bill sparks human rights fears David BattyMonday November 11, 2002 The powers of the government's draft mental health bill are so broad that they could be used to sanction the compulsory treatment of people with epilepsy and diabetes, MPs and peers have warned....The committee warned that the definitions of mental disorder and medical treatment in the bill were "too broad" and went "much further than necessary to ensure that dangerous people can be removed from situations in which they put themselves or others at risk".In a report on the draft bill published today, it warns that the proposals could lead to mental health law being used to compulsorily treat drug addicts, alcoholics, people with learning disabilities, and illnesses that adversely affect mental functioning, including epilepsy and diabetes.