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Applications to restrict elderly people without mental capacity rose 70% in three years

BMJ 2014; 348 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g377 (Published 20 January 2014) Cite this as: BMJ 2014;348:g377
  1. Andrew Cole
  1. 1London

Care homes and hospitals in England and Wales are increasingly seeking authorisation to restrain or restrict the liberty of elderly people who are deemed to lack mental capacity, says a new report by the health and safety watchdog the Care and Quality Commission.1

The figures come from the commission’s latest report on the operation of deprivation of liberty safeguards, a key element of the Mental Capacity Act. The safeguards seek to ensure that people are deprived of their liberty and human rights only if it is in their best interests and no other treatment is available. They cover a range of restrictions, including keeping …

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