§ 10. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Health if, in view of the social and economic disabilities suffered by the children of those who have been certified insane, he will take steps to provide for the formal annulment of such certification when it is found to have been based on an erroneous diagnosis.
§ Mr. PowellNo, Sir.
§ Mr. DribergIs the right hon. Gentleman suggesting that—rare though undoubtedly they must be—mistakes in diagnosis have never occurred? If they do, is it not grossly unjust to the person concerned and to his children because of the disabilities which must be known to the right hon. Gentleman—the jobs for which there are questionnaires asking whether there is a family history of mental illness, and that kind of thing?
§ Mr. PowellAs the hon. Gentleman knows, the Royal Commission on Mental Health looked into this matter, but it did not recommend that there should be a statutory procedure for annulment.
§ Mr. DribergThat is not what I asked. I asked the right hon. Gentleman if he was aware that there were these disabilities, and if he cannot take some action to remedy what I admit must be a very rare kind of error?
§ Mr. PowellAs I explained, there is no statutory procedure for this purpose, but I have no reason to think that the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers are arising or cannot be dealt with and met in other ways. If he has any particular case in mind, I should be very happy to consider it.