Mental Health Act

Question 1

What does section 5(2) of the mental health act allow you to do?

Answer 1

It allows a doctor to legally detain a patient who is voluntarily in hospital for 72 hours

Question 2

What does section 5(4) of the mental health act allow people to do?

Answer 2

This allows a nurse to detain a patient who is voluntarily in hospital for 6 hours

Question 3

What is section 2 of the mental health act?

Answer 3

This allows a patient to be admitted to hospital against their will for assessment and treatment- this lasts for up to 28 days. At least of of the 2 doctors needed to recommend this need to be approved under section 12(2) of the MHA (usually consultant psychiatrist)

Question 4

What is section 3 of the mental health act?

Answer 4

This means a patient can be admitted for treat for up to 6 months.
This requires an approved mental health professional along with 2 doctors which must have seen the patient in the last 24 hours.

Question 5

What is section 4 of the mental health act?

Answer 5

72 hour asessment order, used as an emergency when a section 2 would cause an unacceptable delay
Often by a GP and AMHP