Among reports from committees and working parties, some are crisp and stimulating, while others, the majority unfortunately, are dull and sedative. The Nodder Report falls into the latter category which is a pity because some parts of it are worth reading. It is neither as good nor as useful as it should be because it fails to tackle the problem as fully and as vigorously as required. The working party have avoided difficult but essential problems such as the difficult patient, the patient concerned in criminal proceedings, the role of the consultant psychiatrist, the role of other doctors and the role of the nursing officer. They have grasped the tulips and tiptoed through the nettles.