Psychiatry, Human Rights and the Law [Paperback]

This volume is based on papers given by practising and academic lawyers, judges, psychiatrists, forensic experts and sociologists to a recent conference in Cambridge.This volume is based on papers given by practising and academic lawyers, judges, psychiatrists, forensic experts and sociologists to a recent conference in Cambridge. The contributors consider possible approaches towards the resolution of the main dilemmas that face psychiatry, society and the law. They also consider the best means of promoting more humane, successful and socially efficient services.This volume is based on papers given by practising and academic lawyers, judges, psychiatrists, forensic experts and sociologists to a recent conference in Cambridge. The contributors consider possible approaches towards the resolution of the main dilemmas that face psychiatry, society and the law. They also consider the best means of promoting more humane, successful and socially efficient services.This thought-provoking volume is based on papers given by practising and academic lawyers, judges, psychiatrists, forensic experts and sociologists to a recent conference in Cambridge. The contributors consider possible approaches towards the resolution of the main dilemmas that face psychiatry, society and the law, and towards healing the rifts that have developed between the different professions concerned with the mentally ill. They also consider the best means of promoting more humane, successful and socially efficient services.1. The historical background: the past 25 years since the Mental Health Act of 1959 Martin Roth; 2. The social and medical consequences of recent legal reforms of mental health law in the USA Alan A. Stone; 3. The recent Mental Health Act in the United Kingdom Robert Bluglass; 4. Medical and social consequences of the Italian Psychiatric Care Act of 1978 P. Sarteschi, G. B. Cassano, M. Mauri and A. Petracca; 5. Lessons for the future drawn from United States legislation and experience l³,