Getting serious about burnout: resilience has its limits
In a BMA article by Serene Boyd 21 May 2024 “Be resilient? What do you think I’m doing?“, Boyd says, “‘Resilience’ has become a loaded word. It is a quality …
law
No new lessons here: Retired consultant killed by son who suffered with schizophrenia.
The case of Daniel Harrison, who was convicted of manslaughter by diminished responsibility after killing his father, Dr Nicholas Kim Harrison, highlights significant failings in mental health care management. The …
Snakes in Suits and Behind Bars: The Multifaceted Nature of Psychopathy
Psychopathy is a complex and often misunderstood concept that has been the subject of extensive research and debate in the fields of psychology, criminology, and forensic psychiatry. While not formally …
The Importance of the Nearest Relative in Mental Health Law
In mental health care (in England & Wales), the concept of the ‘nearest relative‘ (NR) holds significant weight. This pivotal role, enshrined in the Mental Health Act 1983, serves as …
The crossover between CPIA and Mental Health Act
This is a somewhat obscure part of the law in England & Wales that may cause some confusion. Experience this week (on 16/05/2024) shows how misunderstanding and errors can occur. …
A Closer Look at Personality Disorders
The WHO’s ICD-11 “Clinical descriptions and diagnostic requirements for ICD-11 mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders“, the latest revision, building on ICD-10, has introduced rigorous requirements for personality disorder diagnosis. [This …
Fathoming Section 62 of the MHA 1983
The Mental Health Act 1983 [hereafter MHA] provides many powers to detain patients for treatment in hospital. Many amendments were made in 2007. The legislation is complex – necessarily so …
Culpability, Care, and Compensation: The Legal Quandary of Lewis-Ranwell v G4S and Ors
In a case that challenges our understanding of mental illness and criminal responsibility, the Court of Appeal has ruled that Alexander Lewis-Ranwell, a man who killed three people while in …
The effect of history in UK psychiatry
I feel a sense of despair as I observe many younger doctors rushing headlong into UK psychiatry, and I wonder, “Do they know what they’re in for?” But then I …
When political leaders fall ill
The issue has surfaced – it is in the public domain – about concerns for the mental health of a US President. Doctors in the UK are not allowed to …