An interesting story, but what is utterly missed is the point that this is the cost in trying to establish at least some justice in the Irish system of involuntary commitment to mental hospitals. The tone is slightly weird, like this is some unwanted expense. From the Irish Medical News
Over €10 million has been spent on mental health tribunals since they were first established in 2006, it has emerged.
In response to a recent Parliamentary Question, Minister for State at the Department of Health and Children, Dr Jimmy Devins stated that €1,001,174 was spent in 2006 and €9,008,051 was spent in 2007 on tribunals.
The Mental Health Commission did not give a further breakdown of the figures when requested by IMN.
A total of 2,423 tribunals were held during this period, meaning that the average cost of each tribunal is approximately €4,130.
The figures do not include a number of outstanding attendance fees, which have yet to be submitted by mental health tribunal panel members to the Mental Health Commission or the overheads associated with the administration of the mental health tribunals by the Commission, according to Minister Devins. The costs of the tribunals are met from the budget of the Mental Health Commission.
Consultant psychiatrist Prof Patricia Casey has branded the figures as “extraordinary”.
She told IMN that it was of the utmost importance that the Mental Health Commission provide a detailed breakdown of the figures given the costs involved. In particular, Prof Casey said in the interests of transparency and accountability it should be reported how much is being spent on solicitors fees.
Out of the 2,248 hearings held in 2007, 256 cases were revoked at hearing.
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