Fay

Firstly, apologies, I can't stop top posting.
Secondly,the accepted practice in this situation seems to be that you can
strike out both bits, i.e. I have previous acquitance or approved under
section 12.
Thirdly, the rules do not say if it is not practicable to get a second
doctor who fulfils the either of the above, then a GP who has been called to
assess the patient can't complete the application. Infact the act does not
give any further guidance other then cite the situations when this is likely
to happen.

As I understand it, the Mental Act reforms are meant to address these issues
but I suspect they will remain as woolly as ever.

Dinesh

 









-----Original Message-----
From: GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fay Wilson
Sent: 23 November 2004 22:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Sectioning under Mental Health Act


From: "Robert Treharne Jones" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 6:28 PM


Can someone remind me what the rules are about sectioning? I had to do
another last Saturday while on call, and yet again it was anything but
straightforward.

I got the approved social worker, and he got the consultant, and they agreed
my patient needed sectioning after assessing him while I carried on the
mobile shift many miles away. However they then insisted I return and sign
the paperwork, even though I'm not approved under section 12 and I'd never
clapped eyes on the patient until about half an hour before I called them
out.

I suggested to them that with a consultant and an ASW present they had all
they required to carry on but the ASW was adamant that I had to sign,
together with the consultant - which does beg the question, why get social
services involved in the first place?

Clarification?

ROBERT!!!!!
However handsome and debonair you are, if you go about signing false
statement eg "This patient is personally known to me and / or I am approved
under section 12 of the MHA" you will get into trouble with the GMC. If the
patient sues later for false arrest (as our local psychs tell us has been
known) you will get it in the neck for behaving irresponsibly.

As a GP it is your duty to make a proper assessment of the situation, refer
to the specialist and if the patient wont co-operate, call in the ASW. It is
the responsibility of the ASW to organise the two signatories.

There is guidance on this on www.wmrlmc.co.uk if I remember correctly.
--
Fay