No stone left unturned
The role of the expert witness is frequently misunderstood. Contrary to certain portrayals in American media, which often depict expert witnesses as partisan advocates, expert witnesses within the UK legal system bear an overriding duty to the court itself. This fundamental distinction is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the function and obligations of expert ...
Research into this was prompted by the utterances of one Gabor Maté – a former Canadian Physician of world fame. This article will spend some time initially debunking Gabor Maté’s statements on ADHD. Gabor Maté is welcomed to sue me, at any time of the day or night! I would relish days in court and ...
This article is brazenly one-sided because it is about an addictive killing substance sold legally. The author is unapologetically anti-smoking because tobacco is the only killing substance sold legally for consumer use. Smoking (of tobacco) is normally seen as a physical health problem. This article will show it is a serious mental health problem as ...
The issue of documentation has been covered from different angles before in: Documentation (June 2023), The Documentation Dilemma (Aug 2024), High level documentation practices (Oct 2024) and Decision-making (Oct 2024). While the publisher and author(s) have used their best efforts in preparing information at this website, they make no representation or warranties with respect to ...
The case of Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust v KAG [2024] EWCOP 38 (T3) and others offers a compelling illustration of the complexities that can arise at the intersection of mental health law and capacity law in the context of medical treatment decisions. This case involved the proposed insertion of a percutaneous endoscopic ...
Previously covered were the generalities of ‘documentation‘ and the extraction of four key principles: clarity, context, clinical reasoning, and patient engagement. This article aims to get into the actual nuts and bolts of documentation. Good documentation is not for the sake of ‘showing good documentation’. Good documentation is inseparable from providing high quality care. NHS ...
The Right to Life, enshrined in Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), holds profound implications for the care and treatment of individuals within mental health services. Article 2 declares that “Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law.” This publication explores the evolution of legal understanding concerning the positive obligations ...
Schizophrenia is a widely understood and misunderstood mental health condition. Many mental health professionals believe they ‘know’ what schizophrenia is. Ideas ‘about delusions and hallucinations’ just scratch the surface, as will be seen when ICD-11 criteria are explored. While the publisher and author(s) have used their best efforts in preparing information at this website, they ...
Decision-making in forensic psychiatry is a multifaceted process that goes beyond mere discussion of facts. It involves a deliberate, analytical approach to weighing various factors and arriving at plans, outcomes or conclusions that are congruent with widely accepted standards of practice. Accurate documentation of this process is essential for professional, legal, and ethical reasons, and ...
John Barrett, a 41-year-old man with a history of schizophrenia and violence, was conditionally discharged from a medium secure forensic psychiatric unit in October 2003 following his conviction for a knife attack in 2002. Despite concerns about his compliance with medication and his capacity to recognise signs of relapse, the clinical team supported his discharge, ...
