Gatekeepers, proxies, advocates? The evolving role of carers under mental health and mental incapacity law reforms

Abstract

This article explores the potential impact of the mental health and mental incapacity law reforms on carers. The reform proposals anticipate a number of overlapping and at times conflicting roles for carers (including those of gatekeeper, decision‐making proxy and advocate), which is suggestive of an ongoing ambivalence toward the caring role at the level of ethics, policy and strategic planning.

Keywords:

• mental incapacity
• mental health
• carers