Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the passage of the Bill. The removal of the word "unwilling" is very welcome. Now, the term is "willing." This involves consultation in all aspects of the treatment of patients with mental health illness by those providing services. I trust it will ensure a consciousness within the mental health services of the need to consult patients and their carers in respect of the treatment they receive.

There has been an approach over the decades in the psychiatric profession to the effect that they know everything and they should decide what happens without consultation. Let us consider any general medical treatment in hospital and cases in which a doctor discusses the treatment he is proposing and informs the patient of it. The same level of information and consultation and ensuring that the patient understands the treatment is vital in mental health treatment. It should be similar to the approach for physical treatment. Many psychiatrists do this, but too many do not.

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