What is a Section 12 in Mass?
What is a Section 12? In Massachusetts, Section 12 of Chapter 123 of the Massachusetts General Laws controls the admission of an individual to a general or psychiatric hospital for psychiatric evaluation and, potentially, treatment.
What is a Section 12 mental health?
Section 12 is a transportation order to a hospital. Once the patient arrives at the hospital he/she must be evaluated by a physician (psychiatrist) to determine if he/she needs to be involuntarily committed for no more than 72 hours. Only the physician can make the commitment determination.
How long can someone be involuntarily committed to a mental hospital?
A 5150, or 72-hour hold, is a means by which someone who is in serious need of mental health treatment can be transported to a designated psychiatric inpatient facility for evaluation and treatment for up to 72-hours against their will.
Can you refuse involuntary hospitalization?
Someone who enters a hospital voluntarily and shows no imminent risk of danger to self or others may express the right to refuse treatment by stating he or she wants to leave the hospital. But a person admitted involuntarily, due to danger to self or others, cannot leave, at least not right away.
How long does Section 12 approval last?
A clinician can be approved for a period of up to 5 years; at the end of this period they can apply for revalidation, Reference Zigmond and Brindle2,3 which is contingent on participation in a section 12 refresher course.
Can a hospital hold you against your will?
Adults usually have the right to decide whether to go to the hospital or stay at the hospital. But if they are a danger to themselves or to other people because of their mental state, they can be hospitalized against their will. Forced hospitalization is used only when no other options are available.
Can a hospital legally hold you?
Under the Act you may be kept in a hospital for up to three working days if the doctors consider you to be a “mentally disordered person”. If you are considered to be a “mentally ill person”, you may be kept in a hospital until a mental health inquiry is held by the Mental Health Review Tribunal.
What is a Section 12 approval?
Approval under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act confers the ability to deprive individuals of their liberty and curtail their human rights. This is one of the most life-altering powers a doctor can hold.
What is Section 12 approved?
Section 12 approved doctors are those approved by the Secretary of State under section 12(2) Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA), where they are described ‘as having special experience in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorder’.
What does section 12 ( b ) of the Mental Health Act mean?
Section 12(b) allows for an individual to be admitted to a psychiatric unit for up to three business days against the individual’s will or without the individual’s consent. Who can sign a Section 12(a) application?
Can a person with schizophrenia be committed to a hospital?
If a person with schizophrenia threatens others, he can be committed. However, only a small percentage of people with schizophrenia are violent.
What is the goal of hospitalization for schizophrenia?
Remember: The goal of hospitalization is to bring the disease symptoms under control. For those with schizophrenia, this is vital. Consider: Schizophrenia causes disordered thinking that can be stressful and chaotic. For some people, the hospital routine is calming.
Are there any assisted treatment options for schizophrenia?
For the 40-50% of people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia who have only partial or no awareness due to the biological nature of the disease in their brains, a form of assisted treatment (if possible) may be a way to get them the treatment that will help to alleviate their symptoms.