Lunacy Act 1845

The Lunacy Act 1845 (8 & 9 Vict., c. 100) was a UK Act of Parliament that, with the County Asylums Act 1845 was the basis of mental health law in England and Wales from 1845 to 1890. It changed the treatment of mentally ill people from that of prisoners to that of patients.

Background
The Act was championed by Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury.

Provisions
The Act established the Commissioners in Lunacy to inspect plans for asylums on behalf of the Home Secretary (s.3). The Act required asylums, other than Bethlem Hospital, to be registered with the Commission, to have written regulations and to have a resident physician (s.42).

Under the Act, patients lost their right of access to the courts to challenge their detention. Detention could only be reviewed by the commissioners or county visitors