§ 4. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health what facilities are afforded, under his Regulations, to a person who is certified and detained in a mental institution under the Mental Deficiency and Lunacy Acts to challenge the validity of certification, bearing in mind that reasons for certification are not divulged to the patient or to relatives.
§ Mr. VosperHe may communicate with relations or friends or with certain specified persons and authorities who are specifically mentioned in the lunacy and mental deficiency legislation. If he or a relation or friend so wishes, they may seek legal advice for the purpose.
§ Mr. DoddsWhy does the Minister say that? Is he not aware that in the vast majority of cases the people are told that they cannot be informed of the reasons for being certified unless or until they are discharged? Is the right hon. Gentleman not further aware that under the Mental Deficiency Act some people who are certified never know why they are detained, so how can they appeal against certification?
§ Mr. VosperMany appeals are made and received by my Department and by the Board of Control. What, in fact, they cannot be informed of are the medical reasons for their certification.