Mental Health Act

Question 1

What is the mental health act

Answer 1

Sectioning under the MHA is used for those over 16 years of age who will not be admitted voluntarily

Question 2

Section 2 of the MHA

Answer 2

Admission for assessment for up to 28 days, non-renewable.
Application for admission is made by approved mental health professional or the patients nearest relative.
Recommendation of 2 doctors

Question 3

Section 3 of the MHA

Answer 3

Admission for treatment for up to 6 months, renewable.
Requires AMHP and 2 doctors, who have seen patient in last 24 hours

Question 4

Section 4 of the MHA

Answer 4

Used in emergencies where a section 2 would cause an undesirable delay.
Requires recommendation of only one doctor and either AMHP or nearest relative.
Detained up to 72 hours

Question 5

Section 5 (2) of MHA

Answer 5

Voluntary patient in hospital may be legally detained by a doctor for 72 hours

Question 6

Section 5 (4) of MHA

Answer 6

Voluntary patient in hospital may be legally detained by a nurse for 6 hours

Question 7

Section 17 of the MHA

Answer 7

Supevised Community Treatment

Question 8

Section 135 of MHA

Answer 8

Court order which allows the police to enter a property to remove a person to a place of safety

Question 9

Section 136 of MHA

Answer 9

Police can bring someone in from a public place who appears to have a mental disorder to a place of safety

Question 10

Criteria for a patient to be treated under the MHA

Answer 10

They must have mental disorder.
There must be a risk to their safety or the safety of others.
There must be a treatment.

Question 11

Uses of the MHA

Answer 11

Only permits the treatment of mental health problems unless a patients physical problem is a result or a cause of their mental disorder

Question 12

When is the Mental Capacity Act used

Answer 12

When a patient lacks capacity

Question 13

What does the Mental Capacity Act allow

Answer 13

Doctors to make decisions in the best interests of their patients

Question 14

5 Key principles of the mental capacity act

Answer 14

A person is assumed to have capacity unless proven otherwise.
Steps must be taken to help a person have capacity.
An unwise decision does not mean a person lacks capacity.
Any decisions made under the MCA must be in the person’s best interest.
Ay decisions made should be the least restrictive to a person’s rights and freedoms.

Question 15

How to assess capacity

Answer 15

Understand relevant information
Retain the relevant information
Weigh up the relevant information
Communicate a decision