§ 59. Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health what progress is being made in the case of Cathlene Murray, of Carlisle, now a patient in Moss Side State Institution; if he is aware that this patient, together with numerous others over the age of 25 now detained as mental defectives, will be liable to immediate discharge in event of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Law Relating to Mental Illness and Mental Defect becoming law; and 695 whether he will start this patient on a process of rehabilitation with a view to her being discharged in the care of her parents at an early date.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganI am making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend.
§ Dr. JohnsonWhile thanking my hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask him, when writing to the medical superintendent, to draw his attention to paragraph 559 of the Report of the Royal Commission, in which it is recommended that medical superintendents should not be too cautious in commending discharges of patients of this kind?
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganI have no doubt that the medical superintendent has already read the Report. I have read it twice.
§ 60. Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Cathlene Murray has been detained in institutions now for over 23 years since the age of 13 years; and what treatment of a psychiatric nature she has received throughout this time.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganYes, Sir. My right hon. Friend thinks it desirable, however, wherever possible, to avoid making public clinical details of a particular patients' treatment. I am writing to my hon. Friend.