Bragg to lead attack on Mental Health Bill

New law is based on 'compulsion rather than compassion', he will tell peers

Charities and campaigners are to lobby Parliament this week against a controversial government Bill containing amendments to the 1983 Mental Health Act.

The broadcaster and writer Lord Bragg is expected to outline the objections in the House of Lords on Tuesday. He will tell his fellow peers that the Bill is "about compulsion rather than compassion".

The Bill, if approved, will allow local authorities to force compulsory treatment on mental patients whether or not it is beneficial. Wide-spread use of proposed Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) could put severe restrictions on patients after they have been discharged from hospital as well as governing where they live and what medication they take.

Mental-health charities, including Rethink and Mind, are concerned about proposals to abolish the so-called "treatability test". At present, patients can be treated without consent only if it is believed it would improve their condition or prevent it getting worse.

"Treating someone without their consent is a very serious thing to do," said Paul Corry of Rethink. "Detention for reasons other than health benefit should be handled by non-health services."

The Bill is the third attempt to reform existing legislation. Previous efforts failed after fierce opposition. The 2005 Scottish Mental Health Act has provisions to protect patients that do not exist in the Bill for England and Wales.