The Duchess of Hamilton is calling for changes in Scotland’s Mental Health Act, saying that her late husband’s death had been hastened by antipsychotics she believed were unnecessarily prescribed. “I thought,” she said, “if this can happen to the Duke of Hamilton, what chance has Joe Bloggs got?”
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And the Dowager Duchess of Hamilton has signed this petition “Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to amend the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 to ensure that it is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.”:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/GettingInvolved/Petitions/mentalhealthlegislation
Petitioner is W Hunter Watson, a human rights campaigner, from Aberdeen, Scotland.
Here is another article in the Scottish Express, from 5 October 2013, which mentions this petition and the Duke of Hamilton, who was the Premier Peer of Scotland:
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/434639/Scots-widow-of-wrongly-sectioned-duke-calls-for-mental-health-overhaul
It says “Lady Hamilton, who lives in East Lothian, said friends had likened the conditions to something out of the novel and movie One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.”
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To add, the Duke of Hamilton was the “Hereditary Keeper of the Palace of Holyrood house”, and “bore the Crown from the Honours of Scotland to the opening of the re-convened Scottish Parliament (1999) in which his ancestors had played major roles from the creation of the Dukedom in 1643”.
See his obituary in the Independent, 9 June 2010:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-duke-of-hamilton-premier-peer-of-scotland-who-raced-cars-and-flew-reconnaissance-missions-over-malaya-1994891.html
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Will the UK need to amend the Magna Carta to protect the rights of people who’ve been labeled? Will the US need to amend the Constitution?
What’s it gonna take for world governments to wake up to the obvious? Forced treatment is a violation of the *person*, the – at a profound level. Some, including myself, would say at a spiritual level, an interference of the journey of the *soul*…. a violation of natural law.
Duane
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And, I don’t care much for dukes or duchesses, or princes, or kings or queens…. must be the American in me… the Texan.
Duane
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Live free or die.
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Duane the Dukes and Duchesses would have been people like you and me, way back before they got their lands and titles. Some folk compare Hollywood stars to the royalty in other lands.
I’m not bothered about the titles because with them comes responsibility. In the case of the Duke of Hamilton his family have been involved in ruling Scotland since 1643. It’s historical and therefore I think of cultural importance, that his widow, the Duchess, is speaking out.
The more people speaking out the better. We are a’ Jock Tamsin’s bairns. An old Scottish saying.
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Chrys,
I probably should have avoided getting into the topic of royalty.
I agree.
The more people speaking out the better.
And, as you know, I think the world of what you’re doing!
My best,
Duane
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That’s OK Duane, you’re entitled to your opinion.
In Scotland we’re not that keen on royals or on being lorded over by gentry. With the Scottish independence referendum coming up in September 2014, it’s an interesting time, nationally.
It’s good that you’re not feart to enter the fray Duane or to admit when you may have been hasty. I’m not so good at the latter and tend to not back down.
Cheers, Chrys
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As in, Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers – I Won’t Back Down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvlTJrNJ5lA
Playing it now as I write …
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Chrys,
Your tenacity is inspiring.
Best always,
Duane
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Can anyone explain to me what a ‘mental health officer’ actually is? What qualifications are needed? I would like to be one if only to avoid being sectioned some fine day in the future. Thanks.
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