Mental health legislation: an unavoidable necessity or a harmful anachronism.
The article addresses the need for specific legislation in mental health, as opposed to other areas of medicine. Issues discussed include: patients' autonomy versus society's safety, insanity and its legal implications, compulsory modes of treatment in psychiatry, dangerousness and violence of psychiatric patients, the price and shortcomings of specific legislation in mental health, and the Israeli legal procedures for the treatment of mentally ill patients. The authors favor specific legislation in mental health, while supporting the need for proper checks and balances.
Margolin
Jacob
J
Community Mental Health Center, Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Israel. Jacob.Margolin@mkyafo.health.gov.il
Witztum
Eliezer
E
D003068:Coercion; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense; D007557:Israel; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011287:Prejudice; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence