title: Inadequate provision for electroconvulsive therapy in the New South Wales Mental Health Act 1983.
abstract: Division 2 of Part X of the NSW Mental Health Act 1983 lays down a set of conditions which must be satisfied before electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be given. These provisions are too restrictive and would deny ECT to a considerable proportion of the patients who are most likely to benefit from it. For many of them it would be the only effective treatment. Principles which should govern the authorisation of ECT are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Durham
mesh_terms: D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009517:New South Wales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*