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Mental Health Bill [HL]

The hour is late. However, I should like to quote very briefly from the United Kingdom’s Disabled People’s Council’s brief on this part of the Bill. It feels strongly about the provision. It is the only umbrella organisation run and controlled by disabled people, representing more than 100 organisations of that type dealing with different impairments and health conditions including mental health. Its describes its view as follows: "““we would see appropriate treatment as an open door for the inappropriate use of drugs for people with learning difficulties. This is because there is no need to consider what is ‘best’ or what would be of therapeutic benefit to them. If the circumstances are, for example, that staff or family members are at risk of being hurt by someone with learning difficulties behaviour then this may well be considered as relevant circumstances which should be taken into account when deciding to prescribe drugs. And further, drugs may be inappropriately prescribed … if other forms of appropriate treatment like establishing alternative communication methods are not currently available””." It goes on to point out—it seems glaringly obvious—that, "““compulsory treatment should only be given when other (voluntary) treatment options can not provide the desired benefit””." The council is focused on the benefit. It is the lack of benefit within the Bill that it fears so much.