Exposing secrets: mental health tribunals held in public. An “ongoing media circus” or justified transparency?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss and examine the implications of holding mental health tribunals in public.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the functioning of tribunals, compares tribunals with other legal processes in the UK and elsewhere, and reviews the legal reasoning for holding tribunal hearings in public.

Findings

The first tribunal hearing has already been held in public and another public hearing is agreed. Public hearings should allow for greater transparency and scrutiny than has thus far been possible, and may change the behaviour of attendees.

Originality/value

Public tribunal hearings have not yet been widely discussed in the academic literature, yet are expected to have implications for all involved.

Citation

Watts, J. and Mackenzie, R. (2012), "Exposing secrets: mental health tribunals held in public. An “ongoing media circus” or justified transparency?", Tizard Learning Disability Review, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 144-150. https://doi.org/10.1108/13595471211240997