Lacking Insight - Community Law

Part 4 > The Views of the StakeholdersAt the hearing – introductionsand explanationsHow, then, do stakeholders believe a Board hearingought to be conducted so as to improve consumerunderstanding of the process?The important elements [of any hearing] arethe introductory welcome, the explaining of thepurpose, [ensuring] the person has actually seenthe medical report, had access to their files.Board Member (Community)“I think that the patientneeds to be made tofeel that this is theirhearing, that they arethe centre and what theyhave to say is extremelyimportant.”Board Member (Community)What information is necessary and how should thisinformation be conveyed? For some Board membersit is essential that consumers be informed about theindependent nature of the review process. Conveyingthis information may mean that some consumers feelmore comfortable about talking about their treatmentand their circumstances in general.[As to the public’s perception of the Board’sindependence or otherwise] I think even incommunications from the Board it probablyneeds to be highlighted, emphasised more thatthe Board’s not part of the clinic, the hospital,whatever. I think it’s got to really come out with aflashing light in written brochure type things andin the initial communications from the Board andit needs to be said every time at the start of everyhearing, and I gather it’s variable in terms of Chairsemphasising that to people. Actually I don’t thinkI did say it every time, I’ve taken to in more recenttimes, of making sure that people know that we’renot part of the place we are attending.Board Member (Legal)For other members, it is more a matter of ensuringthat the information that is provided is conveyed inthe simplest manner possible.You need to keep it very simple, it is about shortsentences. It is about not a lot of explanation aboutthe law, it’s about being clear about who we are,what our role is, what the role of the Board is andgathering the evidence in that total way, so thatit does not get on a train and the train carries theinformation away, the person is left beside or behind.So it is making sure that the person is given everyopportunity . . . to be involved in the process.What I often ask people is have they been beforethe Board before? Some say, “Yes, two or threeyears ago.” I say, “This is the way I like to do it - Iam a legal member, I chair what happens today.This is what I like to happen.” And it dependson the patient, sometimes I talk about the law interms of the Chair, rarely do I say what the five[criteria for being made an involuntary patient]are - that is not helpful . . . [I would explain] whatthe hearing is about, and about treatment options[open to the Board] . . . and that is as muchsome can accommodate. You need to maximisethe opportunity for people to participate or beinvolved [and] that can be by talking a lot or not69