In response to 'Academics slam two-tier legislation', the duty of care we owe patients detained under the Mental Health Act should afford them more protection under the law than the rest of the population, not less.

It is scandalous that detained patients may have to wait until 2013 before the Corporate Manslaughter Act protects them like other citizens.

This discrimination is particularly baffling, given that those organisations which will be most directly affected by the act - mental health trusts - have expressed no desire for such a long delay.

One must assume government is nervous that the poor quality of some - not all - inpatient care could lead to successful claims.

This is administrative cynicism at its worst.

Andrew McCulloch, chief executive, Mental Health Foundation