Mental Heatlh: Mental Health Act Flashcards
For what ages sectioning apply?
This is used for someone over the age of 16 years who will not be admitted voluntarily.
Can we section a patient who is solely under the use of alcohol/drugs?
Patients who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs are specifically excluded
(intoxication or withdrawal though are not excluded)
Section 2
- how long for
- what for
- who is needed to section
Section 2
- admission for assessment for up to 28 days, not renewable
- an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) or rarely the nearest relative (NR) makes the application on the recommendation of 2 doctors
- one of the doctors should be ‘approved’ under Section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act (usually a consultant psychiatrist)
- treatment can be given against a patient’s wishes
Section 3
- how long for
- what for
- who is needed to section
Section 3
- admission for treatment for up to 6 months, can be renewed
- Approved Mental Health Professional along with 2 doctors, both of which must have seen the patient within the past 24 hours
- treatment can be given against a patient’s wishes
Section 4
- how long for
- what for
- who is needed to section
Section 4
- 72-hour assessment order
- used as an emergency, when a section 2 would involve an unacceptable delay
- a GP and an approved mental health worker or nearest relative
- often changed to a section 2 upon arrival at hospital
Section 5(2)
- how long for
- what for
- who is needed to section
Section 5(2)
- a patient who is a voluntary patient in hospital can be legally detained by a doctor for 72 hours
Section 5(4)
- how long for
- what for
- who is needed to section
Section 5(4)
- similar to section 5(2)
- allows a nurse to detain a patient who is voluntarily in hospital for 6 hours
Section 17a
- what’s that? what’s used for?
Section 17a
- Supervised Community Treatment (Community Treatment Order)
- can be used to recall a patient to hospital for treatment if they do not comply with conditions of the order in the community, such as complying with medication
What’s section 135?
Section 135
- a court order can be obtained to allow the police to break into a property to remove a person to a Place of Safety
What’s section 136?
Section 136
- someone found in a public place who appears to have a mental disorder can be taken by the police to a Place of Safety
- can only be used for up to 24 hours, whilst a Mental Health Act assessment is arranged
Can people with a learning disability be detained under section 3?
For Section 3 people with Learning Disability and no other mental disorder may only be detained ‘if the disability is associated with abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible behaviour’
What is Part 2 of the Mental Health Act is about?
Part 2
- deals with detention, guardianship and CTO (community treatment order) for civil (i.e. non-offender) patients
- some aspects also apply to detention or guardianship when patient are detained through courts
What’s Part 3 of the Mental Health Act about?
Part 3: deals with mentally disordered offenders and defendants in criminal proceedings
What’s Part 4 of mental health act about?
Part 4: deals with medical treatment for mental disorder of detained patients (including CTO Recall patients).
What’s section 12 approved doctor?
Section 12 Approved Doctor:
a doctor who has been approved under the Act by the Secretary of State for Health (or certain other specific bodies) as having special experience in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorder
What’s ‘Approved Clinician’?
Approved Clinician:
- a mental health professional approved by the Secretary of State for Health (or certain other specific bodies)
- acts as an approved clinician for the purpose of the Act
- some decisions can only be taken by an AC