§ 40. Mr. T. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Scottish Board of Control refuse the right of the parents of a person certified by the board as a mental deficient and an inmate of an institution under the authority of the board to have an independent medical examination of such certified person; and will he instruct the Scottish Board of Control to grant an independent examination on application being made?
§ Mr. ColvilleMental defectives are not certified by the General Board of Control, but the board have a statutory duty to review at stated intervals the cases of all certified defectives. On such occasions the board may obtain a report by one or more independent medical men, and they are bound to order the discharge of a patient at any time if they are of opinion that he is not, or is no longer, a defective. A parent or guardian may apply in writing to the board for the discharge of any defective on the ground that his mental condition does not justify further detention, and the board may, if they think fit, require the applicant to produce a medical certificate in support of the application. I am not aware of any case in which the board have refused to comply with the statutory provisions, but if particulars of any specific case are furnished I will have inquiry made.