Debates between Baroness Murphy and Lord Woolf during the 2017-2019 Parliament

Wed 5th Sep 2018
Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill [HL]
Lords Chamber

Committee: 1st sitting (Hansard): House of Lords

Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill [HL]

Debate between Baroness Murphy and Lord Woolf
Baroness Murphy Portrait Baroness Murphy
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I really struggle to understand where these gaps might fall. For example, these people who have brain damage, which gives rise to a mental disorder, or people who have transient episodes of epilepsy, which might lead to some fugue state—would they not also be included in mental disorder, under the definition suggested by the noble Baroness, Lady Tyler? I cannot see where these gaps might arise. Have they been identified by psychiatrists? If we look through the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or the International Classification of Diseases, if you prefer, I cannot understand where these gaps might arise.

Lord Woolf Portrait Lord Woolf (CB)
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If the real purpose is to ensure protection under the Human Rights Act for those we are concerned about, has the Minister considered whether that might not be achieved merely by stating that the category of people we are looking at should have the benefit of the relevant section of the Human Rights Act? When I say the Human Rights Act, I mean the convention.