The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 20 March 2003, and received Royal Assent on 25 April 2003. It should be noted that this version of the 2003 Act is "as passed" by Parliament in 2003. This version does not show the amendments made subsequently to the 2003 Act and should therefore be read in conjunction with these changes.
Information on the Bill's passage through Parliament can be viewed on the Scottish Parliament website.
Prior to the drafting of the Bill Scottish Ministers appointed an independent Committee, chaired by the Rt. Hon. Bruce Millan (former Secretary of State for Scotland), to undertake a review of mental health legislation in Scotland. The Committee's report was published in January 2001 and made a series of recommendations to Ministers.