title: Faith, ethics and Section 63 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
abstract: Section 63 of the Mental Health Act 1983 states that an approved clinician can provide medical treatment irrespective of whether or not a detained patient has capacity to refuse such treatment. Case law has established that a range of acts ancillary to the core mental disorder treatment are allowed under Section 63. This article analyses a unique court judgment involving a detained Jehovah's Witness patient who had made an advance decision refusing blood transfusions but who self-inflicted lacerations resulting in blood loss. Core issues within the case involved capacity to consent to treatment and the ethics of treating or not treating patients in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curtice
authors.affiliation: Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.
authors.forename: Louisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: James