The enactment of a single legislative scheme governing nonconsensual treatment of both 'physical' and 'mental' illnesses, based on incapacity principles, has been mooted in recent law reform debates in the UK. We propose a framework for such legislation and consider in more detail the provisions it should contain. The design of legislation that combines the strengths of both incapacity and civi...

Mental health experts are increasingly being utilised by the criminal justice system to provide assistance to courts during the assessment of issues falling beyond the knowledge and/or experience of the courts. A particular domain where the assistance of qualified psychiatrists and psychologists is becoming essential is where the defence of pathological criminal incapacity falls to be assessed....

OBJECTIVES To examine whether there was significant variation in levels of claiming incapacity benefit across general practices. To establish whether it is possible to identify people with mental health problems who are more at risk of becoming dependent on state benefits for long term health problems based on their general practice consulting behaviour. DESIGN Interrogation of routinely avai...

The number of people suffering from mental disorders and receiving disability pensions is still increasing in Europe. Young persons in their working-age are receiving disability pensions more and more often. Among those who are incapable to work (due to both mental and somatic disorders), persons on benefits due to mental disorders are usually younger. The number of disability pensions depends ...

The practice of covertly administering medication is controversial. Although condemned by some as overly paternalistic, others have suggested that it may be acceptable if patients have permanent mental incapacity and refuse needed treatment. Ethical, legal, and clinical considerations become more complex when the mental incapacity is temporary and when the medication actually serves to restore ...

Mental illness is now the leading cause of both sickness absence and incapacity benefits in most high-income countries. The rising economic and social costs make health and work an increasing priority for policy makers. We discuss the findings from Dame Carol Black's recent review of the health of Britain's working-age population and examine how her recommendations may impact and challenge ment...