Mental Health Bill [Lords]

The hon. Gentleman has not been in his place for all of the last part of the debate and I want to suggest a possible line of amendment. The Lords suggested that appropriate medical treatment should be defined as a medical treatment"““which is likely to alleviate or prevent a deterioration””" in the patient’s condition. Could not the Government consider wording along the lines of treatment ““which is intended to alleviate, manage or prevent a deterioration in his condition””? I do not believe that the enormous difference or gulf between the different sides of this debate is as large as others have suggested.