Mental Health Act

Question 1

Section 2

Answer 1

• Admission for assessment for up to 28 days
• Not renewable
• AMHP or rarely nearest relative makes application on recommendation of 2 doctors
• One of the doctors should be approved under Section 12(2) of MHA (usually a consultant psychiatrist)
• Treatment can be given against a patient’s wishes

Question 2

Section 3

Answer 2

• Admission for treatment for up to 6 months
• Can be renewed
• By AMHP + 2 doctors, both of which must have seen the patient within past 24h
• Treatment can be given against a pt’s wishes

Question 3

Section 4

Answer 3

• 72 hour assessment order
• Used as an emergency, when a section 2 would involve an unacceptable delay
• By a GP and an AMHP or nearest relative
• Often changed to a section 2 upon arrival at hospital

Question 4

Section 5(2)

Answer 4

• Temporary doctor holding power
• Use if already in hospital
• Detained up to 72 hrs

Question 5

Section 5(4)

Answer 5

• Temporary nurse holding power
• Use if already in hospital
• Ability to detain up to 6 hours

Question 6

Section 17a

Answer 6

• Supervised Community Treatment (community treatment order)
• Can be used to recall pt to hospital for treatment if they do not comply with conditions of the order in the community, such as complying with medication

Question 7

Section 135

Answer 7

• Court order obtained to allow police to break into a property to remove person to a Place of Safety

Question 8

Section 136

Answer 8

• Someone found in public place who appears to have mental disorder can be taken by police to Place of Safety
• Can only be used for up to 24hrs, whilst a MHA assessment is arranged