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Compromise on mental health bill Compromise on mental health bill
(10 minutes later)
The government has bowed to pressure over its controversial plans to detain untreatable mentally ill people by agreeing extra safeguards on powers.The government has bowed to pressure over its controversial plans to detain untreatable mentally ill people by agreeing extra safeguards on powers.
It had faced opposition from MPs and campaigners to its Mental Health Bill, which would allow people to be detained to protect themselves or the public.It had faced opposition from MPs and campaigners to its Mental Health Bill, which would allow people to be detained to protect themselves or the public.
It has agreed to a compromise proposal ensuring that any compulsory treatment must be of "therapeutic benefit".It has agreed to a compromise proposal ensuring that any compulsory treatment must be of "therapeutic benefit".
Ministers have been trying to update mental health laws since 1998.Ministers have been trying to update mental health laws since 1998.
Labour MP Chris Bryant suggested the "treatability test" compromise during a two-day Commons debate.Labour MP Chris Bryant suggested the "treatability test" compromise during a two-day Commons debate.
We cannot just be detaining people for the purspose of detaining them. There has to be some kind of therapeutic benefit Chris Bryant We cannot just be detaining people for the purpose of detaining them. There has to be some kind of therapeutic benefit Chris Bryant
He said psychiatric units should not become "prisons by another name" and said mentally ill people had the right to appropriate treatment. He said psychiatric units should not become "prisons by another name" and added that mentally ill people had the right to appropriate treatment.
"We cannot simply wash our hands of them. We cannot just be detaining people for the purspose of detaining them. There has to be some kind of therapeutic benefit," he said. "We cannot simply wash our hands of them. We cannot just be detaining people for the purpose of detaining them. There has to be some kind of therapeutic benefit," he said.
The Tories welcomed the move and Health Minister Rosie Winterton told MPs that mental health organisations had urged her to back the amendment.The Tories welcomed the move and Health Minister Rosie Winterton told MPs that mental health organisations had urged her to back the amendment.
Good compromiseGood compromise
She said it was a good compromise, as it was based on the purpose of medical treatment - "it does not turn on the likelihood of treatment achieving that purpose".She said it was a good compromise, as it was based on the purpose of medical treatment - "it does not turn on the likelihood of treatment achieving that purpose".
The bill which would allow people with severe personality disorders to bedetained, if judged to be a threat, was introduced after several high profile murders involving people suffering from mental health problems. The bill which would allow people with severe personality disorders to be detained, if judged to be a threat, was introduced after several high profile murders involving people suffering from mental health problems.
The government says it balances the need for treatment with public safety, but it has been criticised for being too draconian.The government says it balances the need for treatment with public safety, but it has been criticised for being too draconian.
This should help to reduce stigma and enhance personal autonomy and responsibility Tim LoughtonShadow health ministerThis should help to reduce stigma and enhance personal autonomy and responsibility Tim LoughtonShadow health minister
If approved in the Commons later, it will go back to the House of Lords which has already inflicted a series of defeats on the government over the bill.If approved in the Commons later, it will go back to the House of Lords which has already inflicted a series of defeats on the government over the bill.
The Tories also want an "impaired decision making" test put into the bill, to ensure that patients who retained the capacity to decide their own treatment should have their wishes respected.The Tories also want an "impaired decision making" test put into the bill, to ensure that patients who retained the capacity to decide their own treatment should have their wishes respected.
Shadow health minister Tim Loughton said: "What that does is to acknowledge that suffering from a mental disorder doesn't automatically mean that someone isn't fully able to make decisions.Shadow health minister Tim Loughton said: "What that does is to acknowledge that suffering from a mental disorder doesn't automatically mean that someone isn't fully able to make decisions.
Series of amendmentsSeries of amendments
"This should help to reduce stigma and enhance personal autonomy andresponsibility." That was supported by Labour MP Lynne Jones and Lib Dem MP Evan Harris, who said it allowed for people who, while mentally ill, were rational in deciding they did not want medical treatment. "This should help to reduce stigma and enhance personal autonomy and responsibility." That was supported by Labour MP Lynne Jones and Lib Dem MP Evan Harris, who said it allowed for people who, while mentally ill, were rational in deciding they did not want medical treatment.
But Ms Winterton said the government would vote down the amendment saying it would leave potentially dangerous people to be dealt with by the criminal justice system.But Ms Winterton said the government would vote down the amendment saying it would leave potentially dangerous people to be dealt with by the criminal justice system.
The government has already outlined a series of amendments in an effort to get it through Parliament. Ministers have been trying to update mental health legislation since 1998.The government has already outlined a series of amendments in an effort to get it through Parliament. Ministers have been trying to update mental health legislation since 1998.
Concessions include new plans to give people detained under mental health laws access to advocacy services and to allow under-18s held in adult institutions to be treated in "age appropriate settings".Concessions include new plans to give people detained under mental health laws access to advocacy services and to allow under-18s held in adult institutions to be treated in "age appropriate settings".
But they have stuck by the plans to allow doctors to issue supervised community treatment orders, which would force patients to take medicine and place them under detention if required.But they have stuck by the plans to allow doctors to issue supervised community treatment orders, which would force patients to take medicine and place them under detention if required.
The shake-up in the law has been driven by Michael Stone's 1998 conviction for the murders of Lin and Megan Russell.The shake-up in the law has been driven by Michael Stone's 1998 conviction for the murders of Lin and Megan Russell.
Stone was regarded as a dangerous psychopath and it had been assumed he was not held under mental health powers because his condition was considered untreatable.Stone was regarded as a dangerous psychopath and it had been assumed he was not held under mental health powers because his condition was considered untreatable.
This was subsequently found not to be the case as he was receiving treatment but gaps in his care meant he was not given the correct treatment.This was subsequently found not to be the case as he was receiving treatment but gaps in his care meant he was not given the correct treatment.