I wrote this paper in anticipation of changes to the Mental Health Act more than 20 years ago.
It was first presented at a conference in November of 2000.
It was updated regularly since then including in 2007 when I presented it at a U of T law class.
It is updated again now for fresh info but the tone is that of youthful idealism.
I’ve purposefully never re-written the emotion.
People find this helps a lot.
Enjoy!
You can find it here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DHtlJoZO4M92aoGRT5poAQG9vCHQWUvT3Ome_9pbitU/edit?usp=sharing
About Anita Szigeti
• Called to the Bar (1992)
• U of T Law grad (1990)
• Sole practitioner (33 years)
• Partner in small law firm (Hiltz Szigeti) 2002 - 2013
• Mom to two astonishing kids, Scarlett (20+) and Sebastian (20-)
• (Founding) Chair of Mental Health Legal Committee for ten years (1997 to 2007)
* Founding President of Law and Mental Disorder Association - LAMDA since 2017
* Founder and Secretary to Women in Canadian Criminal Defence - WiCCD - since 2022
• Counsel to clients with serious mental health issues before administrative tribunals and on appeals
• Former Chair, current member of LAO’s mental health law advisory committee
• Educator, lecturer, widely published author (including 5 text books on consent and capacity law, Canadian civil mental health law, the criminal law of mental disorder, a law school casebook and a massive Anthology on all things mental health and the law)
• Thirty+ years’ experience as counsel to almost exclusively legally aided clients
• Frequently appointed amicus curiae
• Fearless advocate
• Not entirely humourless
anitaszigeti 