Northern Ireland Health Minister Michael McGimpsey announced the future pathway for new mental capacity and mental health legislation for Northern Ireland covering people with mental health problems and those who lack capacity.
Announcing the proposals, Mr McGimpsey said: “My Department has carefully considered the findings and recommendations from the public consultation held earlier this year.
“There was wide support for principles-based legislation and respondents were also supportive of improved safeguards and protections for individuals who lacked the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.”
On the 2 January 2009, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety issued for consultation ‘A Legislative Framework for Mental Capacity and Mental Health Legislation in Northern Ireland’. The consultation proposed the development of a legislative framework incorporating two separate pieces of legislation for mental capacity and mental health, both supported by an overarching set of human rights principles.
Download the consultation proposal
For further information and to read the full press release visit the Northern Ireland Executive website