MHA 1983 s57
Mental Health Act 1983
(as amended)
Law as at 19/11/11 unless otherwise stated under "Amendments" heading
For details, see Compulsory treatment.
This section applies to
- any surgical operation for destroying brain tissue or for destroying the functioning of brain tissue (s57(1)(a)), and
- the surgical implantation of hormones for the purpose of reducing male sexual drive (Regulation 16).
Changes made by Mental Health Act 2007
- Responsible Clinician/Approved Clinician replaces Responsible Medical Officer 3/11/08
- Appropriate treatment test replaces treatability test and applies to all patients under long-term detention 3/11/08
Related cases
Any cases with a hyperlink to this legislation will automatically be added here. There may be other relevant cases without a hyperlink, so please check the mental health case law page. No results
See also
[The chapter/paragraph numbers which appear below (if any) refer to the 2008 versions of the Code of Practice and Reference Guide.]
- Reference Guide to the Mental Health Act 1983, 16. Medical treatment for patients in hospital, etc (Part 4) [Note that the chapter number relates to the old Reference Guide] — paragraphs 16.16 to 16.23 (and table 16.6)
- Mental Health Act 1983 Code Of Practice for England, 23. Medical treatment under the Act, 24. Treatments subject to special rules and procedures
Law
Treatment requiring consent and a second opinion
57.—(1) This section applies to the following forms of medical treatment for mental disorder—
- (a) any surgical operation for destroying brain tissue or for destroying the functioning of brain tissue; and
- (b) such other forms of treatment as may be specified for the purposes of this section by regulations made by the Secretary of State.
(2) Subject to section 62 below, a patient shall not be given any form of treatment to which this section applies unless he has consented to it and—
- (a) a registered medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part of this Act by [the regulatory authority][1] (not being the [responsible clinician (if there is one) or the person in charge of the treatment in question][2]) and two other persons appointed for the purposes of this paragraph by [the regulatory authority][1] (not being registered medical practitioners) have certified in writing that the patient is capable of understanding the nature, purpose and likely effects of the treatment in question and has consented to it; and
- (b) the registered medical practitioner referred to in paragraph (a) above has certified in writing that [it is appropriate for the treatment to be given.][2]
(3) Before giving a certificate under subsection (2)(b) above the registered medical practitioner concerned shall consult two other persons who have been professionally concerned with the patient’s medical treatment [but, of those persons—
- (a) one shall be a nurse and the other shall be neither a nurse nor a registered medical practitioner; and
- (b) neither shall be the responsible clinician (if there is one) or the person in charge of the treatment in question.][2]
(4) Before making any regulations for the purpose of this section the Secretary of State shall consult such bodies as appear to him to be concerned.
Amendments
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Health and Social Care Act 2008 sch 3; Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Commencement No 9, Consequential Amendments and Transitory, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2009 wef 1/4/09
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mental Health Act 2007 s6, s12; Mental Health Act 2007 (Commencement No.7 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2008 wef 3/11/08 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "MHA" defined multiple times with different content
External links
Owen Bowcott, 'Human rights groups call for end to surgical castration of sex offenders' (Guardian, 22/2/12). This article relates to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture's call for voluntary surgical castration in Germany to be discontinued. In the UK only voluntary chemical castration is permitted, under s57 MHA 1983.