Sectioning

The British Mental Health Act 1983[?] has a number of sections that provide powers for involuntary detention, hospitalization or other medical treatment for people affected by mental illness. The use of these sections of the Act is known as sectioning.

To protect the interests and rights of people subject to sectioning, the act sets up the Mental Health Act Commission[?].

The Scottish equivalent is under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984.

External links

• BBC sectioning FAQ (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2204983.stm)
• Scottish sectioning FAQ (http://www.lsa.org.uk/lsa46.htm)
• A test case (http://webjcli.ncl.ac.uk/1998/issue4/rodgers4)
• Mental Health Act Commission homepage (http://www.mhac.trent.nhs.uk/)