BMJ  2006;332:748 (1 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7544.748

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UK government scraps mental health bill

BMJ

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The UK government is to scrap a controversial draft bill to reform mental health law in England and Wales after eight years of opposition by psychiatrists, lawyers, and mental health charities. As set out by the BMJ in February (2006;332: 444, 25 Feb[Free Full Text]), the lengthy and complex draft mental health bill is to be dropped and a much shorter bill introduced to amend the existing Mental Health Act, which dates back to 1983. The decision to scrap the draft bill was welcomed by campaigners, although many voiced anxiety about what was to be put in its place.

The proposed reforms were triggered by the killing of Lin Russell and her daughter Megan by Michael Stone in a country lane in Kent in 1996. Mr Stone was diagnosed as having a dangerous severe personality disorder but could not be detained for the protection of others . . . [Full text of this article]

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