“The Attorney General and the Mental Health Review Tribunal have conceded that patient Saeed Dezfouli didn’t get a fair hearing before the Tribunal. They have offered to pay their costs and reconsider his requests in a new hearing if Mr Dezfouli withdraws his appeal, before the Supreme Court again this morning” said Justice Action Coordinator Brett Collins.
“I have been treated unlawfully and inhumanely by the Health Department yet the Tribunal refused to intervene for me. It even dishonestly denied my right to appeal until I produced the audio record supporting me. How could I trust the Tribunal to use its powers properly? The appeal must be heard, the truth exposed and the Court make the orders” said Mr Dezfouli.
“Previously the Attorney General and the Tribunal had refused to produce any documents to the Court, asserted that the patient hadn’t asked for changes to his treatment and threatened him with costs if he didn’t withdraw his appeal. They held him for six months without any apology and still want to avoid being held accountable in this test case” said Mr Collins.
“Mr Dezfouli, despite being a non-violent patient who never intended any harm, has been held in the highest security cell for over eight years. He is forcibly injected every fortnight, and is refused a change of psychiatrist, education and exercise. He is refused new visitors and the rules aren’t even stated. This case exposes structural abuse of power masked as health care, costing over $200,000 a year,” said Mr Collins.
Brett Collins, Justice Action
