Proper Investigations into the Deaths of Mental Health Patients
Steven Allen | 12.05.2009 19:38 | Health | Repression | Social Struggles
The Coroners and Justice Bill is currently going through Parliament. Inquests into the deaths of prisoners are currently automatically heard before juries, yet the new Bill seeks to abolish this. Inquests concerning the deaths of all people held in custody or state detention should be held before juries.
The Coroners and Justice Bill is currently making its way through Parliament after years of delays. However, rather than strengthening families rights after the loss of a loved ones, the Bill actually weakens inquests concerning the deaths of prisoners.
Under the Coroners Act 1988, all inquests into the deaths of people in custody must be held before a jury. The Bill seeks to change this so that only unnatural or violent deaths will be investigated, drastically cutting the number of inquests heard before juries each year.
Steven Allen, the son of Sandra Allen, a vulnerable manic depressive who died whilst in detention under the Mental Health Act has been campaigning to have the Bill amended. He argues that all deaths where the state is involved - whether the person is in custody, or in 'detention' - should be held before juries.
"My mum died due to serious systemic failures in her care, whilst she was compulsorily detained under the Mental Health Act in 2006. The coroner in the case refused to hear any evidence about systemic problems and heard the entire case on his own, without a jury. I am saddened that the Bill in its current form is not strengthening inquests to ensure that the deaths of all people under the power of the state are properly and independently investigated."
He argues that mental health patients, as well as immigration detainees, along with prisoners, are all uniquely vulnerable and that, where they die in custody or detention, their cases should be heard by members of the public, and not just remote judicial figures.
For more information on the campaign, please visit
http://justice4sandra.blogspot.com.
Under the Coroners Act 1988, all inquests into the deaths of people in custody must be held before a jury. The Bill seeks to change this so that only unnatural or violent deaths will be investigated, drastically cutting the number of inquests heard before juries each year.
Steven Allen, the son of Sandra Allen, a vulnerable manic depressive who died whilst in detention under the Mental Health Act has been campaigning to have the Bill amended. He argues that all deaths where the state is involved - whether the person is in custody, or in 'detention' - should be held before juries.
"My mum died due to serious systemic failures in her care, whilst she was compulsorily detained under the Mental Health Act in 2006. The coroner in the case refused to hear any evidence about systemic problems and heard the entire case on his own, without a jury. I am saddened that the Bill in its current form is not strengthening inquests to ensure that the deaths of all people under the power of the state are properly and independently investigated."
He argues that mental health patients, as well as immigration detainees, along with prisoners, are all uniquely vulnerable and that, where they die in custody or detention, their cases should be heard by members of the public, and not just remote judicial figures.
For more information on the campaign, please visit
http://justice4sandra.blogspot.com.
Steven Allen
e-mail:
steven.allen@gmail.com
Homepage:
http://justice4sandra.blogspot.com
Comments
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we are all
13.05.2009 00:41
we really need to remov the stigma of mental health problems.
mental
Is there a deliberate policy of patients who are "suicided"?
13.05.2009 08:51
I cannot speak for all trusts but am aware of many failings by Sussex Partnership NHS Trust in the care of people with mental health problems. In the case on one doctor and hospital in this area, a senior consultant told me, "very many of his patients have died, all sorts of other things happened, it has all been covered up". I have established this to be true.
Two people I know perosnally have died as a consequence of this doctor's gross and reckless negligence. I have heard of many more who have died.
In the case of James Corn, died 3 November 2005 while under the "care" of Jeczmien, it was all covered up. The Surrey Coroner heard the case, sat alone and didn't have a jury. In the course of the Inquest, the Coroner made a number of false statements and did his best to avoid issues regarding care at the hospital. The fact both doctor and Coroner are Freemasons may have something to do with it.
James Plant was another who was failed miserably by the same doctor. He died on 16 June 2007. Another inquest where the medical facts were not mentioned. It was conducted in haste and without considering the full facts. James had a very unpleasant 3 years trying to get help and support from this Trust. He was not given either and just left to injure himself. He eventually killed himself as he couldn't stand it any more.
The irony is that in the case of James Corin, he feared that the health trusts were operating a policy of eugenics with the patients in the mental health wards. Cost effective for them (and the state) to have patients who commit suicide is it not?
How many more ?
In memory of James Corin and James Plant.
Siobhan