7. Legislation

Our practice is framed by Mental Health Legislation which positions professionals in control.   Ultimately treatment can be enforced.  This can make it appear that shared decision making in mental health practice is not achievable.

However, we need to recognise that the Mental Health Act code of practice suggests that the law supports the aspirations of shared decision making. For example, the code states that clinicians should still seek informed consent from patients even where the law permits them to treat without consent. But, the extent to which this is happening is unclear.