Overview

Written by two of the country's leading specialists in mental health law, this book provides a detailed overview of the law and the socio-legal, historical, sociological, and cultural issues that surround it. Mental health law, at its heart, involves the forcible confinement and medication of some of society's most vulnerable people, and the authors look closely at the social issues raised by this, and the human rights of those who suffer from mental illness. With reference to recent cases and new legislation, including the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Peter Bartlett and Ralph Sandland analyze the legal structure and functions of the mental health system, and the problems of characterizing mental health law. The legal issues described contain implied premises as to what it is to be a citizen, what the role of the state is for the vulnerable, and what the relative roles of law and medicine are in the regulation of control and deviance. Mental health law is an area of considerable legal and social complexity, and the authors challenge readers to question the system and the policies that have been developed. The text also includes discussion of renewed proposals for the reform of mental health law. Online Resource Centre * Updates * Web links

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9780199278275

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This publication makes the law simple [and] should be essential reading for every mental health worker...I highly recommend it. Nursing Standard

Author Information

Peter Bartlett obtained his doctorate in 1993, and joined the School of Law at the University of Nottingham, where in April 2005 he was appointed to the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Chair in Mental Health Law. His major research and teaching interests lie in the areas of socio-legal history (particularly as it relates to queer studies and to mental health), and health care law (particularly mental health law). Ralph Sandland teaches in the areas of family law, health care law and criminal justice. His research interests span these areas, as well as jurisprudence, feminist theory, and postmodern philosophy. Ralph is also a Co-ordinating Editor of the Journal Social and Legal Studies

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