RT Article
T1 Appeals against detention in conditions of excessive security: an analysis of cases from medium secure units in Scotland
JF The journal of forensic psychiatry & psychology
VO 36
IS 3
SP 340
OP 355
A1 Bennett, Daniel M
A2 Cameron, Bethan
A2 Duthie, Leanne
A2 Fish, Jonathan
A2 Hamilton, Laura
A2 Brown, Johanna
A2 Gillatt, Brian
A2 Hughes, Nicholas 1963-
A2 Thomson, Lindsay D.G.
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1926573749
AB In Scotland, patients have the right to appeal against not only the order which detains them in hospital but also, if treated in medium or high security, against the level of security in which they are treated. This is the first study to examine the characteristics of those appealing against treatment in conditions of medium security. We examined 94 cases of appeals against treatment in medium security of which 79 led to a decision by the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland. Seventy-seven percent of appeals were successful. The support of the responsible medical officer, being placed on the transfer list from medium security and having a history of substance misuse were all significantly associated with successful appeals. There was variation between the three Scottish medium secure units in the likelihood of an appeal to succeed, which may relate to their specific circumstances. This work is important in understanding the factors which are likely to lead to successful appeals and may be of interest if the provision is extended within Scotland, as recently proposed by a review of mental health legislation, or beyond into other jurisdictions.
K1 medium security
K1 excessive security
K1 mental health legislation
K1 Appeals
DO 10.1080/14789949.2025.2452482