Deprivation of liberty
Depriving a person of their liberty has become an important part of safeguarding adults since the Bournewood case.
A 49 year old severely autistic man, known as HL, was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. This case went to the European Court of Human Rights, who said that HL had been deprived of his liberty under Article 5.
It is now illegal to deprive someone of their liberty who lacks mental capacity due to problems like dementia or a severe learning disability.
Deprivation of liberty - further info.pdf (2 pages,21kb)