Highland doctors 'illegally detained mental patients'

As reported in Scotland on Sunday, mental patients were illegally detained by doctors who had no authority to take away their liberty. At least 18 people were wrongly committed by Highland doctors, according to a whistle-blower who claims she has since been forced out of her job as a medical records officer.

Aileen MacDonald said she told Highland Primary Care Trust two years ago that at least one consultant was not on the list of psychiatrists approved as competent to request detention in a mental hospital under the Mental Health Act. MacDonald said at least 18 patients over a period of nine to 12 months were detained, mostly at New Craigs Hospital in Inverness, under invalid orders made as a result of the oversight. The NHS’s own solicitors told her in writing that the problem could lead to any of the detention orders being deemed automatically invalid.