Quote:
Originally Posted by Toy Soldier
The reason it's a last resort is because forcing someone to do something against their will (anyone, no matter what their mental state) is further damaging to their mental health. This is obviously magnified when the person is already suffering. It obviously has to be done when someone is posing an actual physical risk to themselves or especially others, though.
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Absolutely and this is why its very, very difficult to section someone. Under the mental capacity act we have to presume capacity until proven otherwise and even when its been proven that a person does not have capacity, the least restrictive option has to be adhered to.
Sectioning someone for 72 hours is nearly always damaging to that person but sectioning someone in a proper caring facility for a longer period of time will usually be very beneficial for the simple reason that they will find themselves amongst experts. Med professionals will, probably for the first time since their diagnosis, be able to help them.
Those who don’t have mental capacity are not criminals and they aren’t treated as criminals. Most of us imagine straight jackets and padded cells with uncaring brutal staff. Its nothing like that. Modern day staff who work within the mental health section are some of the most caring, patient and understanding people in the medical profession.