Compulsory admissions of patients with mental disorders: State of the art on ethical and legislative aspects in 40 European countries
Wasserman, D.; Apter, G.; Baeken, C.; Bailey, S.; Balazs, J.; Bec, C.; Bienkowski, P.; Bobes, J.; Bravo Ortiz, M. F.; Brunn, H.; Bôke, Ö.; Camilleri, N.; Carpiniello, B.; Chihai, Jana; Chkonia, E.; Courtet, P.; Cozman, D.; David, M.; Dom, G.; Esanu, Andrei; Falkai, P.; Flannery, W.; Gasparyan, K.; Gerlinger, G.; Gorwood, P.; Gudmundsson, O.; Hanon, C.; Heinz, A.; Heitor Dos Santos, M. J.; Hedlund, A.; Ismayilov, F.; Ismayilov, N.; Isometsä, E. T.; Izakova, L.; Kleinberg, A.; Kurimay, T.; Klæbo Reitan, S.; Lecic-Tosevski, D.; Lehmets, A.; Lindberg, N.; Lundblad, K. A.; Lynch, G.; Maddock, C.; Malt, U.F.; Martin, L.; Martynikhin, I.; Maruta, N. O.; Matthys, F.; Mazaliauskiene, R.; Mihajlovic, G.; Mihaljevic Peles, A.; Miklavic, V.; Mohr, P.; Munarriz Ferrandis, M.; Musalek, M.; Neznanov, N.; Ostorharics-Horvath, G.; Pajević, I.; Popova, A.; Pregelj, P.; Prinsen, E.; Rados, C.; Roig, A.; Rojnic Kuzman, M.; Samochowiec, J.; Sartorius, N.; Savenko, Y.; Skugarevsky, O.; Slodecki, E.; Soghoyan, A.; Stone, D. S.; Taylor-East, R.; Terauds, E.; Tsopelas, C.; Tudose, C.; Tyano, S.; Vallon, P.; Van der Gaag, R. J.; Varandas, P.; Vavrusova, L.; Voloshyn, P.; Wancata, J.; Wise, J.; Zemishlany, Z.; Öncü, F.; Vahip, S.
Date:
2020
Abstract:
Background. Compulsory admission procedures of patients with mental disorders vary between countries in Europe. The Ethics
Committee of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) launched a survey on involuntary admission procedures of patients with
mental disorders in 40 countries to gather information from all National Psychiatric Associations that are members of the EPA to develop
recommendations for improving involuntary admission processes and promote voluntary care.
Methods. The survey focused on legislation of involuntary admissions and key actors involved in the admission procedure as well as most
common reasons for involuntary admissions.
Results. We analyzed the survey categorical data in themes, which highlight that both medical and legal actors are involved in involuntary
admission procedures.
Conclusions. We conclude that legal reasons for compulsory admission should be reworded in order to remove stigmatization of the
patient, that raising awareness about involuntary admission procedures and patient rights with both patients and family advocacy groups is
paramount, that communication about procedures should be widely available in lay-language for the general population, and that training
sessions and guidance should be available for legal and medical practitioners. Finally, people working in the field need to be constantly aware
about the ethical challenges surrounding compulsory admissions.
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