Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in relation to section 63 of the Mental Health Act 1983, whether investigations ancillary to compulsory treatment (for example blood tests to determine precise or safe dosing for permitted compulsory treatment under section 63) are permitted as part of the overall compulsory treatment permitted under that section.

Section 63 of the Mental Health Act 1983 provides that the consent of patients falling within that part of the Act is not required for medical treatment for mental disorder, where the treatment is given by the patient’s approved clinician, or under their direction. Exceptions to this are where the treatment falls under the special procedures set out in sections 57, 58 and 58A. Medical treatment for mental disorder, mentioned under section 63, may include treatment of physical conditions where it is intended to alleviate or prevent a worsening of symptoms or a manifestation of the mental disorder. For example, a blood test for an antipsychotic drug, or where the treatment is otherwise part of, or ancillary to, treatment for mental disorder.