An editorial published in the British Journal of Psychiatry addresses the intersecting issues of human rights, discrimination and community treatment orders.
The editorial was written by Giles Newton-Howes who is a senior lecturer at the University of Otago in Wellington and consultant psychiatrist and clinical leader, community, at Te-Upoko-me-te-Whatu-o-Te-Ika (the 3DHB mental health directorate), and Chris Ryan who is a clinical associate professor and consultation–liaison psychiatrist at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital.
The editorial concludes that “use of these orders to force community treatment upon individuals who competently refuse treatment can no longer be justified and should immediately stop.”
You can read the full editorial here.