Andoh B
Faculty of Law, Southampton Institute, Hants.
Med Sci Law. 1995 Jul;35(3):225-30. doi: 10.1177/002580249503500309.
Statutory authority for retaking absconders from mental hospitals has existed ever since county asylums (the forerunners of mental hospitals) were first built in the nineteenth century. Today under the Mental Health Act, 1983 that 'right' can be exercised by the police, mental hospital staff, approved social workers, etc. This article looks at jurisprudential aspects of that 'right'. It points out that 'right' actually means 'power' (not 'privilege', 'claim' or 'immunity'). In addition it argues that the Mental Health Act, 1983 does only confer a power (rather than impose a duty) to retake absconders from mental hospitals and that there should not be statutory or other imposition of such a duty.
自19世纪首批郡立精神病院（精神病院的前身）建成以来，就一直存在将潜逃的精神病患者带回医院的法定权力。如今，根据1983年《精神健康法》，警察、精神病院工作人员、经批准的社会工作者等都可以行使这一“权力”。本文探讨了这一“权力”的法学层面。文章指出，“权力”实际上意味着“权力”（而非“特权”“权利主张”或“豁免权”）。此外，文章认为，1983年《精神健康法》仅赋予了将潜逃的精神病患者带回医院的权力（而非强加一项义务），并且不应通过法定或其他方式强加这样一项义务。
