Amnesty fears over mental health bill

AMNESTY International Ireland has expressed its concern to the Government that a new Mental Capacity Bill does not guarantee equal rights to all patients and that it could leave the system open to legal delays and increased costs.

It is understood that Amnesty outlines its concerns on some aspects of the Mental Capacity Bill 2008 in its submission to the Government, although in general it welcomes the proposed legislation.

The legislation will apply to people at any stage of their lives when their decision-making capacity is in question and will reform aspects of laws involving wards of court and powers of attorney.