The rights of persons with mental disorders

Abstract

Reference is made to the paper by Dr Anthony Zahra and Dr Nigel Camilleri entitled “An Overview of the New Mental Health Act for the Maltese Islands” published in the The Synapse Magazine, Volume 13 Issue 01. The authors here submit their comments, remarks and clarifications from a patient rights’ perspective.

In the previous article, the authors suggest that a specific reference to either the World Health Organisation International Classification of Diseases or the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders could provide more definite guidance to users of the Mental Health Act. However if legislation is too prescriptive or prefers one international classification over another, then it may diminish clinical autonomy and as a result hamper rather than guide the service provider. As a result this may negatively impact the beneficiary of the service.