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  • HEALTH: Mental health charity calls new mental health bill 'dangerously flawed'

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HEALTH: Mental health charity calls new mental health bill 'dangerously flawed'

The mental health charity, Mind, has criticised new legislation under debate calling it "deeply flawed". The changes to the law were sparked by the murders of Lin and Megan Russell in 1996. Their killer, Michael Stone, had been diagnosed as a dangerous psychopath. But his condition was untreatable so he could not be detained. Other incidents include the stabbing of Denis Finnegan in 2004 as he cycled in Richmond Park. His killer, John Barrett, was a violent schizophrenic who had walked out of a mental hospital a day earlier. Doctors had no powers to detain him. The new bill would allow the dangerously ill to be held even if they have not committed a crime. Some patients would get community treatment orders when they ae released restricting their movements. Critics of the bill say these measures could scare the mentally ill from seeking the help they need.

ITN Source | April 16, 2007Watch more videos from ITN Source

Tags:. .changes. .powers. .park. .under. .michael











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