December 2021 update

This page is automatically generated: it will only be complete at the end of the month. All monthly updates are available here: Archive of monthly updates.

Website

  • Magic Book. The Magic Book is a database of contact details. The main idea is to add the hospitals and other places you visit (not just your own place of work). To create/edit contacts, there is no need to log in and the process is very quick and simple. See Magic Book
  • Mental Health Law Online CPD scheme: 12 points for £60. Obtain 12 CPD points online by answering monthly questionnaires. The scheme is an ideal way to obtain your necessary hours, or to evidence your continued competence. It also helps to support the continued development of this website, and your subscriptions (and re-subscriptions) are appreciated. For full details and to subscribe, see CPD scheme.
  • Cases. By the end of this month, Mental Health Law Online contained 2194 categorised cases


Cases

  • Case (Judicial visits). Re AH [2021] EWCA Civ 1768 — This appeal against a Court of Protection serious medical treatment decision was allowed because of the nature of the judge's visit to the patient in hospital: it may have been that the judge considered AH to have given him some insight into her wishes; if so, the judge's decision was undermined because (a) it was strongly arguable that the judge was not equipped properly to gain any such insight (the validity of any such assessment might well have required further evidence or submissions) and (b) the parties needed to be informed about this and given an opportunity to make submissions. The Court of Appeal provided the following guidance pending any update to the guidance issued by Charles J: "Clearly, these matters will need to be determined before any visit takes place and after hearing submissions or observations from the parties: (a) Whether the judge will visit P; (b) The purpose of any visit; (c) When the visit is to take place and the structure of the visit (in other words, how the visit it to be managed; what is to happen during it; and whether it is to be recorded and/or a note taken); (d) What is to happen after the visit. This will include, depending on the purpose of the visit, how the parties are to be informed what occurred; when and how this is to happen; and how this will fit within the hearing so as to enable it to be addressed as part of the parties' respective cases."

Resources

  • Mental capacity law newsletter. 39 Essex Chambers, 'Mental Capacity Report' (issue 118, December 2021) — "Highlights this month include: (1) In the Health, Welfare and Deprivation of Liberty Report: the Supreme Court takes on capacity, learning to learn, and capacity and illicit substances; (2) In the Practice and Procedure Report: the Court of Appeal’s concern about judicial visits, and reporting restrictions and accountability; (3) In the Wider Context Report: Parole Board guidance on mental capacity, and how consumer law can help navigate care home dilemmas; (4) In the Scotland Report: a truly shocking report of institutional inhumanity, and the extent of incapacitation under s.67 of the Adults with Incapacity Act 2000. Because there’s not a huge amount to report, there is no Property and Affairs Report this month. However, a reminder of this consultation currently underway, closing on 12 January 2022 about third-party access to limited funds."
  • Preface to MHA Manual. Richard Jones, 'Preface to Mental Health Act Manual, 24th edition' (July 2021) — Richard Jones argues that mental health law in England & Wales is in a dire state for two main reasons: (1) the decision to legislate for the detention of mentally incapacitated patients within the MCA instead of amending the MHA, which error was compounded by over 250,000 people being identified as deprived of their liberty, in the absence of any coercion or interference with their freedom of action, following the Cheshire West decision; and (2) the complexity of the MHA, which would be increased by the proposals of the Wessely review and the decision to incorporate those by further detailed amendments without structural change. His proposed way forward is to remove the detention powers from the MCA, repeal the LPS legislation, and abandon the Wessely proposals; for the long term, to draft a single modern statute which applies to everyone; and, in the meantime, "some attempt should be made before it is too late to prevent the ageing hulk of the Mental Health Act from sinking into disrepute under the weight of its multiple amendments".

Social media

Nothing to report this month.


Other items

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