Involuntary+Patients

=__Involuntary Patients__= Involuntary institutionalisation refers to patients who are put into an institution without their consent. Admission of patients against their will is a serious legal matter, and in this situation, the regulations of the //Mental Health Act 1990 (NSW)// must be carefully adhered to. This is due to the fact that the patients are detained, and sometimes given treatment, against their will. A person can be admitted as an involuntary patient:


 * by a doctor
 * upon the request of relatives
 * by the police
 * as a result of a court order
 * by a welfare officer

Once a patient has been involuntarily admitted into an institution, at least two doctors must examine them, to decide whether or not they need to be there. If they are diagnosed as mentally disordered, they can't be kept any longer than three days without their consent. If, however, they are diagnosed as mentally ill, a magistrate's hearing will take place within the week so as to determine if they will be held as a temporary patient. The involuntary institutionalised patient is provided with legal representation by the Mental Health Advocacy Service, which is a division of Legal Aid that's purpose is to specifically represent those who are deemed to be mentally ill. The impact that involuntary institutionalisation has on an individual was shown in the Burdekin inquiry:

//I suffered a severe depressive episode ...(in the course of which) I was forcibly committed ... with police dragging me from my home, punitive custodial staff mocking at me and physically hurting me ... to [show you are] upset or to exhibit anger or agitation or despair is to prove oneself 'ill' or 'disturbed'. There must be better ways of responding to people's need for care and treatment which protect dignity, self respect, privacy and self-determination, even - and especially - when they seem not to have the wit to function.//