rights which may be engaged: Article 8: Right to respect for private and family life – An untreated physical health problem could have an impact on the person’s physical and psychological well-being. Is the person supported to make informed choices around medical treatment (e.g. attending the doctors)? Being able to participate in decisions that affect your health and wellbeing is an important part of Article 8. Does the person have access to appropriate health care services? Are reasonable adjustments made for their mental health difficulties in accessing health care? Article 14: Freedom from discrimination in relation to other human rights – eg, has the person been denied informed choices in treatment for physical health on the grounds of their mental health difficulties or disability? Article 3: Right to be free from inhuman or degrading treatment- e.g. Are facilities available to avoid treating people with physical health needs (eg wheelchair users) in a degrading way? In serious cases of degrading treatment, this could be a breach of Article 3. If the person is detained under MCA (DOLs) or MHA, are they getting the medical treatment that they need? If a failure to provide treatment to someone deprived of their liberty leads to serious harm, this could be a breach of Article 3. Article 2: Right to life- Is the person supported to access medical checks and clinics? In extreme cases, lack of support with healthcare could lead to a fatality. Does the person have access to their physical health medication? If necessary, are enough staff available to ensure that the person is able to access their physical health medication if it is not in their possession e.g. if somebody needs their inhaler or insulin, are there enough staff to ensure the person has access to it as needed? If not, in some situations this could risk the right to life. FREDA principles: You may also wish to consider the FREDA principles: Fairness, Respect, Equality, Dignity, and Autonomy. Is the person being treated with fairness, respect, equality, dignity, and autonomy in relation to their physical health?
Human rights which may be engaged: Article 8: to respect for private and family life – Is information about the person’s medication shared only on a ‘need-to-know’ basis? Does the person have any input into decisions about their medication? (Do they have capacity?) Is the person responsible for administering their own medication? Is the person given respect and privacy while taking their medication? Are they given information about their medication and any side effects? Is medication used as a form of restraint for the person? Article 2: to life – e.g. Does the person have access to any regular medication (e.g. is diabetes or epilepsy medication taken at the correct time with the correct doses etc.). In extreme cases, lack of support with medication could lead to a fatality. Are the relevant agencies taking steps to provide any support that is necessary? principles: You may also wish to consider the FREDA principles: Fairness, Respect, Equality, Dignity, and Autonomy. Is the person being treated with fairness, respect, equality, dignity, and autonomy in relation to their medication? e.g. are they able to take it in private?
Human rights which may be engaged: Article 8: Right to respect for private and family life – e.g. is the person able to make or get a drink or food when they want? Does the person have access to money? Are they able to spend their money on whatever they decide? Article 3: Right to be free from inhuman or degrading treatment – is the self-neglect severe enough to place the person at risk of harming themselves, or of being in a state which is seriously degrading? Are appropriate steps in place to ensure this does not happen? Article 2: to life – If self-neglect becomes extreme; this could potentially lead to loss of life. Are appropriate steps in place to ensure this does not happen? FREDA principles: You may also wish to consider the FREDA principles: Fairness, Respect, Equality, Dignity, and Autonomy. Is the person being treated with equality and dignity regardless of their presentation? Is the person given respect and privacy (by both staff and other service users) whilst undertaking personal care? If the person refuses to do personal care, is this right respected? Is the person encouraged to eat if they refuse food?