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Overview

A study of laws governing compulsory psychiatric treatment, particularly committal under the Mental Health Act and relations between the mental health and criminal justice systems.

Areas covered include: legal definitions of 'mental disorder'; standards governing compulsory psychiatric assessment, detention and treatment; mental disorder and violence; review procedures; the disposition of mentally disordered offenders; confidentiality and access to psychiatric records.

About this paper

Paper title Law and Psychiatry
Subject Law
EFTS 0.125
Points 15 points
Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,198.25
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Restriction
LAWS 448
Limited to
MBHL, PGDipBHL
Contact
law@otago.ac.nz
Teaching staff

Iris Reuvecamp

Teaching Arrangements

Distance with in-person teaching and assessment components

Textbooks
Course materials provided by the Faculty.
Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes
Students will understand:
  • Legal definitions of 'mental disorder'
  • Standards governing compulsory psychiatric assessment, detention and treatment
  • Mental disorder and violence
  • Review procedures
  • The disposition of mentally disordered offenders
  • Confidentiality and access to psychiatric records

Overview

A study of laws governing compulsory psychiatric treatment, particularly committal under the Mental Health Act and relations between the mental health and criminal justice systems.

Areas covered include: legal definitions of "mental disorder"; standards governing compulsory psychiatric assessment, detention and treatment; mental disorder and violence; review procedures; the disposition of mentally disordered offenders; confidentiality and access to psychiatric records.

About this paper

Paper title Law and Psychiatry
Subject Law
EFTS 0.125
Points 15 points
Teaching period Not offered in 2027 (Distance learning)
Domestic Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Restriction
LAWS 448
Limited to
MBHL, PGDipBHL
Contact
law@otago.ac.nz
Teaching staff

Iris Reuvecamp

Textbooks

All course readings for this paper are provided by the Faculty on Aoroa.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the paper will understand:

  • The international and domestic legal framework relating to mental health
  • The law relating to adult decision-making capacity
  • The law governing compulsory mental health assessment and treatment
  • The disposition of mentally disordered offenders
  • Steps taken by Aotearoa New Zealand to improve the human rights consistency of the Mental Health Act, including current law reform
  • Complaint processes relating to mental health
  • Coronial processes relating to mental health
  • The law relating to the management of psychosocial risk
  • Preventing abuse in mental health places of detention
  • Confidentiality and access to mental health records
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