The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 is a progressive legislation in India aimed at safeguarding the rights of persons with mental illness while ensuring access to quality mental health services. This book presents the full text of the Act along with detailed commentary, clarifying provisions related to patient rights, mental health services, advance directives, nominated representatives, and responsibilities of mental health establishments.

It covers key areas such as informed consent, protection against discrimination, procedures for admission and treatment, reporting obligations, and oversight mechanisms by regulatory authorities. The commentary also addresses judicial interpretations, practical challenges, and strategies for effective implementation of the Act in healthcare and legal settings.

Designed for both professional and academic audiences, this publication is indispensable for lawyers, psychiatrists, psychologists, healthcare administrators, policymakers, and students of law and mental health. By combining statutory interpretation with practical examples and case law, it provides readers with a clear understanding of compliance, ethical standards, and rights-based mental healthcare practices.