title: Perspectives on the Mental Health Act 2014 (Vic).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article will consider the potential impact of Victoria's new Mental Health Act 2014 (Vic) from the perspectives of consumers, careers and members of the treating team. This article will examine how some of the more drastic legal reforms will impact clinical processes, procedures and decision making.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new Act takes significant steps towards empowering consumers. However, its practical application will take some time to appraise. Only time will reveal how the Mental Health Tribunal handles its newfound powers, whether consumers will benefit from a more collaborative approach to clinical decision making and ultimately whether the Act will empower consumers.
authors.affiliation: Senior Monash University Medical Student, Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rauchberger
authors.affiliation: Director, Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ri.kulkarni@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Jayashri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
mesh_terms: D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003254:Consumer Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010819:Physician's Role; D014739:Victoria
keywords: Mental Health Act; Mental Health Tribunal; human rights; law; legislation