Interpretation and knowledge of human rights in mental health practice, Philip Sugarman, Geoffrey Dickens , British Journal of Nursing, Vol. 17, Iss. 10, 22 May 2008, pp 664 – 667
Abstract:The Human Rights Act is sometimes misunderstood as being an obstruction to the provision of safe and effective mental health care, allowing patients to cry ‘human rights abuse’ too easily. In reality, however, little is known about how human rights are protected and promoted in psychiatric care. This article provides an overview, for nurses, of how human rights are currently understood to be protected in mental health care and steps that could improve the protection of rights. Additionally, an overview of the relevant case law is presented to enable nurses to understand how human rights law is ever-evolving, how cases may be interpreted, and the implications that this has for mental health nursing practice.
For the full-text of this article please email: susan.jennings@lancashirecare.nhs.uk
Filed under: Acts - Mental Health, Mental Health Nurses, human rights, mental health | Tagged: care, human rights act, law, mental health, mental health act, patients rights
