This article is a reaction paper to a previous article published in The Synapse 2014 Volume 13 Issue 1 which can be found through this link : https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/13822Reference is made to the paper by Dr Anthony Zahra and Dr Nigel
Camilleri entitled “An Overview of the New Mental
Health Act for the Maltese Islands” published in the
The Synapse Magazine, Volume 13 Issue 01. The authors here submit their
comments, remarks and clarifications from a patient rights’
perspective.
In the previous article, the authors suggest that a specific reference to either the
World Health Organisation International Classification of
Diseases or the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders could provide more
definite guidance to users of the Mental Health Act. However
if legislation is too prescriptive or prefers one international
classification over another, then it may diminish clinical
autonomy and as a result hamper rather than guide the service
provider. As a result this may negatively impact the beneficiary
of the service.peer-reviewe
