New N.W.T. Mental Health Act would create panels for competency decisions

A new Mental Health Act for the Northwest Territories would put more focus on treating people in their home communities and give patients who refuse treatment an out-of-court option to voice their concerns.

The new act, meant to replace the existing but outdated Mental Health Act, underwent two readings in the legislative assembly earlier this month and may undergo third reading during the fall sitting.

Before that happens, MLAs will take the proposed act on the road to get feedback from several communities.

One of the major changes proposed under the new act — if it's actually put into practice — would see patients who have been treated in a hospital receive follow-up treatment in their home community.

Daryl Dolynny, MLA for Yellowknife's Range Lake constituency, is one of the MLAs on the committee that will be reviewing the bill and seeking community input. He says the government will need to invest in that process for it to be successful, but says he is optimistic.

"If the framework shows that there's a community treatment process, there will definitely be some money associated with that in the future," he said.

The act would also establish three-member panels to decide on a variety of matters, including whether a patient is mentally competent to make treatment decisions, and whether a doctor can provide treatment to a patient who has refused that treatment.

The panels would include one lawyer and one medical doctor.

"In the old act, the only recourse for the patient is to appeal a decision into the court system," Dolynny said. "That's unfortunate.

"I see this board as mechanism to protect patient rights."

The legislative assembly will reconvene for its final sitting on Sept. 29.