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Statements of reasons

Patients and health services can request a statement of reasons explaining why the Tribunal made a decision in a particular case.  

Statements of reasons are not precedents that must or should be followed. However, for transparency about its decision making, the Tribunal has de-identified and published a variety of statements of reasons on AustLII.

The statements of reasons below explain how the Tribunal applied criteria in mental health legislation and made different types of decisions.
 

Treatment order criterion (a) – the person has a mental illness

WQF [2023] VMHT 7
RGV [2021] VMHT 2
OEQ [2021] VMHT 21
CEF [2021] VMHT 27
YQT [2021] VMHT 1
FFC [2020] VMHT 5
AAP [2020] VMHT 17
DDQ [2020] VMHT 21
SUN [2020] VMHT 23
JJM [2020] VMHT 29
OYC [2020] VMHT 31
CKH [2020] VMHT 37
CFW [2019] VMHT 4
RMH [2019] VMHT 25
AQY [2018] VMHT 003
NAI [2018] VMHT 010
QXW [2018] VMHT 020
XYK [2018] VMHT 024
LNL [2018] VMHT 032
GEX [2018] VMHT 038

Treatment order criterion (b) – immediate treatment necessary to prevent serious deterioration in mental or physical health or serious harm to the person or another person

AQO [2024] VMHT 15
IYQ [2024] VMHT 14
TES [2022] VMHT 1
RED [2022] VMHT 2
NKB [2021] VMHT 16
OEQ [2021] VMHT 21
XWO [2020] VMHT 1
DTM [2020] VMHT 35
UPG [2019]  VMHT 8
RAA [2019] VMHT 10
UTT [2019] VMHT 20
PQG [2019] VMHT 27
SHQ [2019] VMHT 30
KFH [2019] VMHT 35
OAH [2018] VMHT 009
TUQ [2018] VMHT 013
LGS [2018] VMHT 014
AIV [2018] VMHT 015
WBL [2018] VMHT 034
XAM [2018] VMHT 041

Treatment order criterion (c) – immediate treatment will be provided if person is subject to a Treatment Order

OEQ [2021] VMHT 21
BVR [2020] VMHT 16
SON [2019] VMHT 6
SBK [2017] VMHT 018
OUM [2017] VMHT 049
RCK [2016] VMHT 9
LQQ [2016] VMHT 17
OWC [2016] VMHT 39
ZGE [2016] VMHT 92
GXS [2015] VMHT 205

Treatment order criterion (d) - no less restrictive means reasonably available to enable the immediate treatment

Decisions made under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022

WJL [2024] VMHT 12
IYQ [2024] VMHT 14 
SCG [2024] VMHT 13
ORI [2024] VMHT 10 
TIP [2024] VMHT 9
HHX [2024] VMHT 7
GEC [2024] VMHT 5
PHO [2024] VMHT 4
RYV [2024] VMHT 2
DIZ [2024] VMHT 1
GQA [2023] VMHT 24
ESJ [2023] VMHT 22
STS [2023] VMHT 17
OUQ [2023] VMHT 16
NHX [2023] VMHT 15
FVV [2023] VMHT 14

Decisions made under the Mental Health Act 2014

MHW [2023] VMHT 9
BLQ [2023] VMHT 8
ARZ [2023] VMHT 5
WYU [2022] VMHT 3
HUZ [2021] VMHT 3
LSH [2021] VMHT 5
PED [2021] VMHT 8
CPQ [2021] VMHT 11
CDS [2021] VMHT 15
RDD [2021] VMHT 20
ZGP [2021] VMHT 22
ZAV [2021] VMHT 24
KDY [2021] VMHT 25
XMA [2021] VMHT 26
CAD [2020] VMHT 2
HYX [2020] VMHT 10
ECX [2020] VMHT 12
JQA [2020] VMHT 15
AGD [2020] VMHT 20
CFQ [2020] VMHT 24
AMX [2020] VMHT 28
CIE [2020] VMHT 34
OSR [2020] VMHT 36
KAL [2020] VMHT 41
WON [2019] VMHT 3
LND [2019] VMHT 9
CNN [2019] VMHT 13
VGK [2019] VMHT 18
MPK [2019] VMHT 19
VUV [2019] VMHT 29
PPO [2019] VMHT 32
HGG [2019] VMHT 36

Duration of treatment orders

Decisions made under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022

AFU [2024] VMHT 3
DQD [2023] VMHT 21
EFN [2023] VMHT 18

Decisions made under the Mental Health Act 2014

VXF [2023] VMHT 12
YAM [2023] VMHT 11
BLQ [2023] VMHT 8
NVF [2023] VMHT 6
ARZ [2023] VMHT 5
SXD [2021] VMHT 6
QGG [2021] VMHT 9
NKB [2021] VMHT 16
ZND [2021] VMHT 17
MFR [2021] VMHT 18
UWX [2021] VMHT 19
XMA [2021] VMHT 26
SHL [2020] VMHT 3
NKI [2020] VMHT 26
AKU [2020] VMHT 27
XNA [2020] VMHT 32
OSH [2020] VMHT 38
BYG [2020] VMHT 39
DNP [2020] VMHT 42
PML [2019] VMHT 1
SPT [2019] VMHT 7
JVH [2019] VMHT 11
XOZ [2019] VMHT 15
NKL [2019] VMHT 37
QGV [2019] VMHT 38

Deciding the setting of treatment orders (inpatient treatment order or community treatment order)

Decisions made under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022

GEC [2024] VMHT 5
AFU [2024] VMHT 3
EFN [2023] VMHT 18

Decisions made under the Mental Health Act 2014

VOS [2023] VMHT 13
VXF [2023] VMHT 12
YAM [2023] VMHT 11
XFW [2021] VMHT 7
QGG [2021] VMHT 9
OHZ [2021] VMHT 23
XMA [2021] VMHT 26
MGP [2020] VMHT 6
DHD [2020] VMHT 7
VDB [2020] VMHT 25
CGP [2020] VMHT 30
DNP [2020] VMHT 42
PML [2019] VMHT 1
YLP [2019] VMHT 5
LDO [2019] VMHT 22
MTW [2019] VMHT 39
KZE [2018] VMHT 012
XHJ [2018] VMHT 029
VPW [2018] VMHT 037
JVB [2018] VMHT 043

Applications to deny access to documents

EAK [2018] VMHT 011
IVE [2018] VMHT 025
VUF [2017] VMHT 047
RCZ [2015] VMHT 215
KJR [2016] VMHT 38

ECT criterion – capacity to give informed consent

Decisions made under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022

ZWF [2024] VMHT 17
QXH [2024] VMHT 11
BDV [2024] VMHT 8
GJR [2023] VMHT 23

Decisions made under the Mental Health Act 2014

FZT [2021] VMHT 4
CWR [2021] VMHT 10
MSM [2020] VMHT 14
BHI [2020] VMHT 19
HVT [2020] VMHT 40
HUV [2019] VMHT 2
EBJ [2019] VMHT 12
IIN [2019] VMHT 16
HXN [2019] VMHT 28
LUS [2019] VMHT 31
GJN [2019] VMHT 33
MCS [2018] VMHT 005
OZE [2018] VMHT 008
UFZ [2018] VMHT 021
INM [2018] VMHT 027
XSJ [2018] VMHT 028
XPV [2018] VMHT 031
XUP [2017] VMHT 007

ECT criterion – no less restrictive way to be treated

Decisions made under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022

WHH [2023] VMHT 19

Decisions made under the Mental Health Act 2014

FZT [2021] VMHT 4
LDH [2021] VMHT 14
BHI [2020] VMHT 19
EHI [2020] VMHT 22
EBJ [2019] VMHT 12
HXN [2019] VMHT 28
LUS [2019] VMHT 31
GJN [2019] VMHT 33
CTE [2019] VMHT 34
MCS [2018] VMHT 005
GOS [2018] VMHT 006
OZE [2018] VMHT 008
JSP [2018] VMHT 018
INM [2018] VMHT 027
XSJ [2018] VMHT 028

Other ECT issues (for example, urgency)

IGV [2017] VMHT 046
KQQ [2016] VMHT 47 
EPD [2016] VMHT 81
YDQ [2016] VMHT 105
TRK [2015] VMHT 220

Combined treatment order and ECT hearings

HUV [2019] VMHT 2
INM [2018] VMHT 027
XUP [2017] VMHT 007
EDO [2017] VMHT 013
YRO [2017] VMHT 028
VTF [2017] VMHT 044
DQU [2016] VMHT 1
UFG [2016] VMHT 7
QKN [2015] VMHT 212

Application against transfer to another service

VOS [2023] VMHT 13
VGA [2020] VMHT 8
LJV [2020] VMHT 33
HHJ [2019] VMHT 17
IIZ [2019] VMHT 21
NQQ [2017] VMHT 063

Interstate transfers

HEC [2018] VMHT 001

Jurisdictional issues

IMK [2021] VMHT 12
KND [2020] VMHT 4
DQU [2017] VMHT 053
XIY [2017] VMHT 059
XOG [2016] VMHT 40
YFC [2016] VMHT 44
VUZ [2016] VMHT 64
NMP [2016] VMHT 65

Adjournments

Decisions made under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022

TPS [2024] VMHT 6

Decisions made under the Mental Health Act 2014

LBM [2023] VMHT 10
JVH [2019] VMHT 11
ROA [2019] VMHT 23
AIA [2017] VMHT 016

Secure treatment orders

GJL [2020] VMHT 9

Application of Mental Health Act principles and other themes

Decisions made under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022

AQW [2024] VMHT 16
TPS [2024] VMHT 6
EET [2023] VMHT 20
STS [2023] VMHT 17
OUQ [2023] VMHT 16
FVV [2023] VMHT 14

Decisions made under the Mental Health Act 2014

TES [2022] VMHT 1
CPQ [2021] VMHT 11
AJR [2021] VMHT 13
DHD [2020] VMHT 7
GJL [2020] VMHT 9
WNY [2020] VMHT 13
YDK [2020] VMHT 18
KAL [2020] VMHT 41
VDL [2019] VMHT 14
MPK [2019] VMHT 19
UTT [2019] VMHT 20
LDO [2019] VMHT 22
NMC [2019] VMHT 24
TTU [2019] VMHT 26
PQG [2019] VMHT 27
VUV [2019] VMHT 29
LUS [2019] VMHT 31

Statements of reasons concerning particularly complex or novel facts or clinical issues

SJX [2016] VMHT 13
XAE [2016] VMHT 82
 

Other examples of the Tribunal’s decision making

TES [2022] VMHT 1
LSH [2021] VMHT 5
PED [2021] VMHT 8
AKU [2020] VMHT 27
XNA [2020] VMHT 32
TTU [2019] VMHT 26