BMA Response To The Queen’s Speech, UK

November 19, 2006 – 5:07 pm | posted in Fertility, Mental Health

The civil liberties of people with mental disorders could be severely compromised if the proposed legislation for England and Wales outlined in the Queen’s speech goes ahead, said Dr Tony Calland, Chairman of the BMA’s Medical Ethics Committee.

He added:

“It is essential that anyone with a mental health disorder can only be compulsorily treated if there is some clear health benefit linked to this action. Mental health legislation cannot be used to detain people whom the authorities simply want locked away. If people are deemed a danger to others then criminal proceedings need to be implemented, if appropriate.

“The BMA is also concerned about the plans to create a single regulator with responsibilities for IVF, embryology, human tissues and transplantation, replacing the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority [HFEA] and the Human Tissue Authority [HTA]. The HFEA and the HTA have very different functions and the BMA is not convinced that one single body can deal effectively with their specialist areas. There needs to be a proper debate on whether a new body needs to be established rather than how it should be set up.”

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