A general guide to the Human Rights Act, with information about your human rights and what you can do if someone doesn't respect them.
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This is sometimes said to be an absolute right. However, it will not be a breach of a person's right to life if the state uses necessary force, for example:
Public authorities must also take reasonable steps to protect your life.
This duty also applies to people who are informal patients.
If there has been a death involving public authorities, an independent investigation must be held, which is usually an inquest.
Jane died while detained under section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This meant that there had to be a coroner's inquest so that the inquiry was independent of the hospital.
This is an absolute right. A situation has to be very serious before it will be seen as inhuman or degrading treatment. This will depend on the circumstances of your situation, for example: age, health and how long you've been treated this way.
Richard is detained under section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983 because he has schizophrenia. His doctor thinks it is necessary for him to take antipsychotics which give him very unpleasant side effects. An independent psychiatrist (also known as a SOAD) has been to visit him and has agreed to the treatment plan. This would not breach Article 3.
Restraint will generally not be seen as torture and ill-treatment unless too much force is used, or it is used to limit your movement in a way other than to protect or prevent further damage.
Elspeth was strapped into a wheelchair for long periods of time to prevent her wandering off and leaving the hospital. She was very distressed and the nurses were informed that this could be degrading treatment.
The government must make an independent investigation if there are allegations of abuse by people working in public authorities. An example of this was the Winterbourne Inquiry.
Joan lives in a care home. She is unable to get out of bed. The staff do not change her bedding regularly so they are soiled.
She is unable to lift herself up and the staff leave trays of food without helping her to eat.
These may be possible breaches of Article 3: Prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.
This is a limited right. You have a right to move around as you want and not be locked in a room or building. However, this right can sometimes be limited by the law, for example if a person is arrested or detained on mental health grounds.
If you are not free to leave, and you are under continuous control and supervision, then you are likely deprived of your liberty (i.e. your right to liberty has been limited).
If this happens:
For example, a safeguard for when you are sectioned under the Mental Health Act is being able to apply to the Mental Health Tribunal (MHT) to challenge your detention.
Even if you are arrested or detained on mental health grounds, you still have the following rights:
You can go to court to challenge whether or not the decision was lawful. So if you are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, you can ask the Mental Health Tribunal to look at whether your detention was fair.
For more information about this, you should contact your advocate or find a solicitor. See Useful contacts for more information.
You must be given the reasons why in a language that you can understand.
You are entitled to be brought in front of a judge promptly.
These could all amount to breaches of Article 5: Right to liberty and security.
This is an absolute right. To be considered fair, a hearing should address the following:
Absolute human rights cannot be taken away under any circumstances or for any reason. The right to a fair trial (Article 6) is an example of an absolute right.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsThese are organisations whose role is of a public nature. This includes:
This has the same meaning as voluntary patient.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsThis is a law that applies to England and Wales which allows people to be detained in hospital (sectioned) if they have a mental health disorder and need treatment. You can only be kept in hospital if certain conditions are met.
See our pages on the Mental Health Act for more information.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsThis is an independent doctor appointed by the Care Quality Commission in England or by the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. You need his or her approval to be given or continue to be given certain forms of medical treatment under the Mental Health Act 1983.
See our pages on consent to treatment for more information.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsLimited human rights can be restricted for specific reasons. Human rights can only be restricted if it is proportionate – that is, it must be for a fair and valid reason.
For example, the right to liberty (Article 5) is a limited right. A person can be detained by the state for many lawful reasons including prison, mental health grounds and other reasons listed in the Article.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsThis is a special court that deals with cases relating to the Mental Health Act 1983. The Tribunal decides whether you can be discharged from your section. It can sometimes make recommendations about matters such as hospital leave, transfer to another hospital, guardianship and community treatment orders (CTOs).
The court is made of a panel, which normally includes:
Where you see a reference to the Mental Health Tribunal in this guide, it means:
The nearest relative is a family member who has certain responsibilities and powers if you are detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act. These include the right to information and to discharge in some situations.
The law sets out a list to decide who will be your nearest relative. This can sometimes be changed.
See our pages on the nearest relative for more information.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsThe Court of Protection makes decisions and appoints deputies to act on your behalf if you are unable to make decisions about your personal health, finance or welfare.
See our pages on the Mental Capacity Act for more information.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsThis is the mental health professional in charge of your care and treatment while you are sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
Certain decisions, such as applying for someone who is sectioned to go onto a community treatment order (CTO), can only be taken by the responsible clinician.
All responsible clinicians must be approved clinicians. They do not have to be a doctor, but in practice many of them are.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsBeing 'sectioned' means that you are kept in hospital under the Mental Health Act. There are different types of sections, each with different rules to keep you in hospital. The length of time that you can be kept in hospital depends on which section you are detained under.
See our pages on sectioning for more information.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsThis information was published in January 2020. We will revise it in 2023.
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