Dáil set to remove compulsory Electro-convulsive Therapy from law

The Dáil is set to begin efforts to remove compulsory Electro-convulsive Therapy from our laws.

As the mental health act stands ECT can be administered regardless of whether or not a patient agrees.

Minister Kathleen Lynch says her department has now secured Dáil time to have remove the word unwilling from the law.

She says she wants patient's wishes respected.

"Up to this point, even if I have the capacity to say no, no I don't want that, as you would with any other treatment, it is still possible to administer that treatment to the person who doesn't want it whether they like it or not. We're going to remove that."