Reforming DoLS: liberty protection safeguards

Abstract

From April 2022, current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) will be replaced by Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS). This review article outlines key information about these changes for patients, carers and healthcare professionals, for whom a deprivation of liberty may be relevant.Deprivation of liberty occurs within healthcare settings when someone's freedoms are limited in order to meet their care needs and lack capacity to consent to these arrangements. DoLS, enacted in 2009, ensured that patients deprived of liberties in care settings have similar rights to patients held under the Mental Health Act 1983. However, DoLS have been extensively criticised and considered unfit for purpose, therefore are being replaced by LPS.LPS intend to provide a more robust protection to a wider group of vulnerable people. This includes changes to patient age, transferability between a wider range of care settings, a reduced number of assessments for authorisation and less frequent reauthorisations.

Keywords: ethics; law; medical ethics; medical law; mental health; psychiatry.