§ Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in the context of their review of the Mental Health Act 1983 they are considering the amendment of Section 62, which permits electro-convulsive therapy to be administered to a patient without his or her consent; and, if so, in what way. [HL190]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)On 16 November the Government published a consultation paper on the reform of the Mental Health Act 1983; copies of which are available in the Library.
We are inviting views on the safeguards that should apply to the use of Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) generally, as a part of this consultation. We have also specifically asked respondents to consider whether this treatment should continue to be available on any future equivalent of Section 62, which concerns the administration of urgent treatment.
We are satisfied that, on the available evidence, ECT is a form of treatment that can save the lives of those suffering from severe, generally psychotic depression. However, we recognise the strong feelings that ECT arouses; that is why we are consulting on the level of safeguards appropriate to its use.