A woman in Darwin narrowly avoided being forced to undergo up to 12 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), after the Northern Territory's Mental Health Review Tribunal authorised her doctor's decision to administer ECT without her consent.

Key points: NT's Mental Health Review Tribunal authorised electro-convulsive therapy against the patient's wishes

NT's Mental Health Review Tribunal authorised electro-convulsive therapy against the patient's wishes The woman appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn the decision

The woman appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn the decision Her lawyer argued the patient had demonstrated capacity to understand her illness, and the basis of her refusal to undergo ECT

The woman was an involuntary mental health patient on a six-week admission at Royal Darwin Hospital, when her doctors sought to employ the controversial therapy.

In Supreme Court documents obtained by the ABC, the patient's lawyer, Julian Vido, argued that in order for the Mental Health Review Tribunal to authorise ECT, the tribunal had to be satisfied the woman was unable to give "informed consent".

Mr Vido argued his client had provided detailed information to the tribunal that "demonstrated her capacity to understand her mental illness, the general nature of the treatment proposed, her preferred treatment plan and the effects of giving consent to ECT".

"[The patient] was able to clearly and consistently communicate her opposition to ECT and it's basis … [namely] that her decision to refuse consent was based on the risk of memory loss," Mr Vido argued.

Patient previously had memory loss from ECT

The notice of appeal stated the woman had previously experienced memory loss after sessions of ECT, and that the tribunal had failed to consider whether other treatments were available.

ECT involves strapping electrodes to a person's head and then controlled electric shocks through the brain, with the aim of affecting brain activity and relieving severe depressive and psychotic symptoms.

Electro-convulsive therapy is known to bring about memory loss in some patients. ( ABC News: Margaret Burin )

According to mental health support service Beyond Blue, modern ECT is "safe and effective", "but because it is an intrusive procedure and can cause some memory problems, ECT should be used only when absolutely necessary".

While the patient was awaiting the outcome of her appeal, not due to be heard until February, she completed her involuntary admission and was discharged from the hospital.

As a result, the Supreme Court ordered the decision of the Mental Health Review Tribunal to be set aside.

The case follows a landmark judgement by Victoria's Supreme Court in November 2018, which determined that orders forcing two patients with schizophrenia to undergo ECT had breached their human rights.