PSY240H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Mental Health Law, Insanity Defense, Mental Disorder
Document Summary
Mental disorder= impairment of psychological functioning that is involuntary not situational. Constitutional law: charter of rights and freedoms. If people found unable to make decisions because of a mental disorder, rights are restricted. Statutory law: stature= codes adopted by government, supported by monarch, mental disorders: civil mental health law, criminal law, balance rights of disabled and protection of citizens, criminal code: could not be held criminally responsible. Common law: case law, when new situations arise, it gets discussed. Insanity defense: diagnosable disorder, do they know what they did was wrong/ understand consequences, results in treatment. M"naghten rule: has mental disorder, didn"t know it was wrong. Problem scenario: i knew it was wrong, god told me to do it. Competency to make legal decisions= if they can attend their trial (if they understand charges), English common law= stopped court proceedings/ execution is became mad. Canadian law: whittle= must be able to communicate, understand.
