Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- Author:
- PARKIN Elizabeth
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons Library
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 10
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing paper provides an overview of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and proposals from the Law Commission that DoLS are replaced by a new scheme called the Liberty Protection Safeguards. DoLS provide a framework for approving the deprivation of liberty for people who lack the mental capacity to consent to necessary treatment in a hospital or care home. A Supreme Court judgement in 2014 significantly widened the definition of deprivation of liberty, resulting in a ten-fold increase in the number of deprivation of liberty applications following the judgement. The Law Commission proposals for new safeguards intend to streamline the process for assessing whether a deprivation of liberty is necessary, and obtaining the required authorisation. The new scheme would also extend beyond hospitals and care homes. (Edited publisher abstract)
- Subject terms:
- Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, mental capacity, assessment, rights;
- Location(s):
- England
- Link:
- Register/Log in to view this resource
- Series name:
- Commons Briefing papers 8095