Voluntary commitment
Encyclopedia
Voluntary commitment is the act or practice of a person being admitted to a psychiatric hospital
, or other mental health facility, voluntarily, and without the process of involuntary commitment
. Unlike in involuntary commitment the person is free to leave the hospital against medical advice
, though a period of notice, or the requirement that the leaving take place during daylight hours, is sometimes required.
In some jurisdictions a distinction is drawn between formal and informal voluntary commitment, and this may have an effect on how much notice the individual must give before leaving the hospital. This period may be used for the hospital to use involuntary commitment procedures against the patient. People with mental illness can write psychiatric advance directives
in which they can, in advance, consent to voluntary admission to a hospital and thus avoid involuntary commitment.
In the UK, people who are admitted to hospital voluntarily are referred to either as voluntary patients or informal patients. These people are free to discharge against medical advice, unless it is felt that they are at immediate risk, then a doctor can use mental health law
to hold people in the hospital for up to 72 hours. People who are detained by mental health law are referred to as formal patients.
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
, or other mental health facility, voluntarily, and without the process of involuntary commitment
Involuntary commitment
Involuntary commitment or civil commitment is a legal process through which an individual with symptoms of severe mental illness is court-ordered into treatment in a hospital or in the community ....
. Unlike in involuntary commitment the person is free to leave the hospital against medical advice
Against medical advice
Against Medical Advice, or AMA, sometimes known as DAMA, Discharge Against Medical Advice, is a term used with a patient who checks himself out of a hospital against the advice of his doctor. While it may not be medically wise for the person to leave early, in most cases the wishes of the patient...
, though a period of notice, or the requirement that the leaving take place during daylight hours, is sometimes required.
In some jurisdictions a distinction is drawn between formal and informal voluntary commitment, and this may have an effect on how much notice the individual must give before leaving the hospital. This period may be used for the hospital to use involuntary commitment procedures against the patient. People with mental illness can write psychiatric advance directives
Psychiatric advance directives
A Psychiatric advance directive , also known as a mental health advance directive, is a written document that describes what a person wants to happen if at some time in the future they are judged to be suffering from a mental disorder in such a way that they are deemed unable to decide for...
in which they can, in advance, consent to voluntary admission to a hospital and thus avoid involuntary commitment.
In the UK, people who are admitted to hospital voluntarily are referred to either as voluntary patients or informal patients. These people are free to discharge against medical advice, unless it is felt that they are at immediate risk, then a doctor can use mental health law
Mental health law
Mental health law is the area of the law that applies to persons with a diagnosis or possible diagnosis of mental illness, and to those involved in managing or treating such people.-Mental health law in general:...
to hold people in the hospital for up to 72 hours. People who are detained by mental health law are referred to as formal patients.