Independent Advocacy: A brief look at its past and present. Is its future under threat?

Abstract

The need, in mental health care, for advocacy which is independent of the health care provider is clear and acknowledged but the existence of the schemes which provide it might be seriously threatened by PALS. Principles of independent advocacy have been developed over the last twenty five years. Unfortunately many advocates are unfamiliar with the law affecting their practice and its impact upon those principles, especially in respect of confidentiality. The advocate is the client’s agent, owing a duty of care but unable to guarantee confidentiality. It is likely that most independent advocacy schemes have wholly inaccurate and inadequate confidentiality policies and guidelines. If these inadequacies are not addressed independent advocacy will not be able to compete with rival systems and it will be in danger of disappearing.