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major breakthrough in the protection of mental
patients is the setting up of a Mental Health Review Tribunal. le In order to ensure that the Tribunal can serve as an effective channel for patients detained in mental hospitals for a review of their case, the group paid particular attention to the strength of its membership. The group has repeatedly stressed the need
members of the tribunal to have knowledge and experienç
iscuss the for / input by a social worker on the and experience in social work social aspects of the cases, including social assessment reports, as well as the need for a medical member on the Tribunal to be doctors with relevant psychiatric qualifications. The
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nistration has accepted these points and an amendment will be
at the
Committee stage.
moved
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One of the most controversial issues involved in the bill is the role of police officers. There are criticisms that
In the bill, if a police the police are given too much power. officer finds in any place a person who appears to be suffering from mental disorder, he can take him to a hospital.
The group
shares the concern of the legal profession and other voluntary agencies and has pursued these points assiduously. The group's major concern is that the welfare of the patient should be taken care of and it considers that it is in the interest of the
patient to be taken to a hospital where he can receive treatment
to
rather than a police station, as is required under the existing law. Thus the specific provision for removal to a hospital is necessary. The group also accepts the view that although *any place includes private premises, a police officer can only enter private premises in pursuance of some statutory or commo
common law power. The bill does not confer upon the police any additional power to enter private premises.
However, to ensure further protection of the individual, the group has persuaded the Administration to agree to certain safeguards. The group feels that a stricter discipline should be imposed upon the police in his assessment
before taking action.
from mental disorder
Thus a person who appears to be suffering
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