# Mental Health Act 2025, Section 1: Principles to inform decisions

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.
Status: prospective

In section 118 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (duty to prepare code of practice, including principles which the person making it thinks should inform decisions under the Act) for subsection (2B) substitute—
“(2B) The statement of principles must, in particular, include the principles, and address the matters, specified in the table.
Principle
Matters to be addressed
Choice and autonomy
involvement of patients in decision-making, and consideration of the views of carers and other interested parties
Least restriction
minimising restrictions on liberty so far as consistent with patient wellbeing and safety and public safety
Therapeutic benefit
effectiveness and appropriateness of treatment
The person as an individual
treating patients with dignity and respect and considering their attributes and past experiences
”

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/33/section/1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/mental-health-act-2025/section-1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.