mental_health_act_flashcards
What is Section 2 of the Mental Health Act?
Admission for assessment for up to 28 days, not renewable.
Who makes the application for Section 2?
An Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) or rarely the nearest relative (NR) on the recommendation of 2 doctors.
How long can a patient be admitted under Section 2?
Up to 28 days.
What is Section 3 of the Mental Health Act?
Admission for treatment for up to 6 months, can be renewed.
Who makes the application for Section 3?
AMHP along with 2 doctors, both of whom must have seen the patient within the past 24 hours.
How long can a patient be admitted under Section 3?
Up to 6 months, can be renewed.
What is Section 4 of the Mental Health Act?
72 hour assessment order.
When is Section 4 used?
Used as an emergency, when a Section 2 would involve an unacceptable delay.
Who makes the application for Section 4?
A GP and an AMHP or NR.
What is Section 5(2) of the Mental Health Act?
A patient who is a voluntary patient in hospital can be legally detained by a doctor.
How long can a patient be detained under Section 5(2)?
For 72 hours.
What is Section 5(4) of the Mental Health Act?
Allows a nurse to detain a patient who is voluntarily in hospital.
How long can a patient be detained under Section 5(4)?
For 6 hours.
What is Section 17a of the Mental Health Act?
Supervised Community Treatment (Community Treatment Order).
When can a patient be recalled to hospital under Section 17a?
If they do not comply with conditions of the order in the community, such as complying with medication.
What is Section 135 of the Mental Health Act?
A court order to allow the police to break into a property to remove a person to a Place of Safety.
What does Section 135 allow the police to do?
Allows the police to break into a property to remove a person to a Place of Safety.
What is Section 136 of the Mental Health Act?
Someone found in a public place who appears to have a mental disorder can be taken by the police to a Place of Safety.
How long can someone be detained under Section 136?
Up to 24 hours, whilst a Mental Health Act assessment is arranged.
summarise MHA
Sectioning under the Mental Health Act
This is used for someone who will not be admitted voluntarily. Patients who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs are specifically excluded
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
admission for treatment for up to 6 months, can be renewed
AMHP 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
72 hour assessment order
used as an emergency, when a section 2 would involve an unacceptable delay
a GP and an AMHP or NR
often changed to a section 2 upon arrival at hospital
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)
similar to section 5(2), allows a nurse to detain a patient who is voluntarily in hospital for 6 hours
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
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
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
You are called by the husband of a 45-year-old patient who is registered at your practice. Her only history of note is type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with metformin. For the past three days he states that she has been ‘talking nonsense’ and starting to hallucinate. An Approved Mental Health Professional is contacted and makes her way to the patient’s house. On arrival you find a thin, unkempt lady who is sat on the pavement outside her house, threatening to ‘kick your head in’. What is the most appropriate action?
Ask her husband to restrain her
Lorazepam IM 1mg
Haloperidol IM 5mg
Call the police
Check her blood sugar
Call the police
The patient is in a public place and threatening violent behaviour. The police should be contacted to transport her to a place of safety where she may be formally assessed.
Metformin would not cause hypoglycaemia.
