Patients given drugs they don’t need, say experts
PEOPLE with autism and learning disabilities are being given ‘life-limiting’ drugs they do not need, a report has found.
An independent review of the Mental Health Act – ordered by the Scottish Government following a Scottish Mail on Sunday investigation – found they are sedated with anti-psychotic drugs, despite never having a mental illness diagnosed.
Under the Act, people can be sectioned and medicated against their will if it is deemed they need treatment or pose a risk to their own or someone else’s safety.
But experts working for the inquiry fear medical professionals are administering drugs to control behaviour, rather than to help people medically.
They claim the mind-altering drugs can cause serious side-effects, including ‘lifelimiting physical health problems’. They also say there is ‘almost no evidence’ that such medication is helpful.
The review’s stage two report claims the practice may be in contravention of human rights legislation – and has suggested a law be introduced to amend the current Act. It comes after this newspaper highlighted the cases of autistic people in care, including Kyle Gibbon, 31, who has been held at the State Hospital in Carstairs, Lanarkshire, for nine years. His mother Tracey Gibbon, of Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, claims he is regularly sedated with drugs.
The review panel is about to enter the third and final stage of the inquiry before delivering its findings to the Scottish Government in December.
Having spoken to more than 100 people with experience of autism and learning difficulties managed under the Act in stage one, the stage two report involved the team consulting with legal experts. Now they believe the Act does not comply with either the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the European Convention on Human Rights.
A new law, they say, would amend the Act to require a human rights approach to looking after people with learning disabilities and autism.
The review’s final report with recommendations will go to Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey.
Last night, Miss Gibbon said she felt vindicated by the latest report.
She added: ‘This Mental Health Act is like a noose around Kyle’s neck. He is practically serving a life sentence only because he is autistic and has learning disabilities. Since being in Carstairs he has lost all of his life skills – he can’t do the things he used to be able to do because he has no liberty.
‘He is being treated like a guinea pig for drugs in Carstairs. What did he do to deserve this? It’s just heart-breaking.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The independent review started the third and final phase of public consultation on August 30 and will make recommendations to Ministers by the end of the year.
‘We must allow the review process to run its course before making a considered response to the final recommendations.’