In Australia, few measures have been taken to protect people with disability from medical or scientific experimentation where they are unable to give their free and informed consent, including people with disability who require support in exercising their legal capacity, raising concerns under Article 15(1). Only legislation in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory contains provisions prohibiting medical or scientific experimentation or treatment on persons without their full, free and informed consent.238 (See also Article 17)
Many people with disability are particularly susceptible to being chemically restrained and administered medication in combinations that may pose a risk to their physical and mental health or cause actual bodily harm. There are limited protections from abuse of medication regimes and a lack of criminal offences concerning the maladministration of medications to control and manage behaviour.239
