“Psychiatric hospitals must consider the children of those who are given compulsory mental health treatment, according to a health watchdog. The Mental Welfare Commission says most healthcare staff are unaware of their responsibilities to help parents to maintain contact with their children.”
BBC News, 7th March 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Mental Health Acts and Care orders give authorities power to remove children and young adults from their families, and place them behind the closed walls of psychiatric care, which is largely unaccountable. The family scrutiny afforded the rest of the NHS, which recently resulted in the exposure of NHS’s scandalous neglect, is not available to mental health patients. Winterbourne being exposed by undercover media.
Parents are the only people who know, and love their children, who have little or no voice within the system. Authorities must ensure family members maintain full contact and authority over their relative’s treatment. If this is not given,relatives must try to enforce their rights by freestanding s 8 of the human rights act actions.