The issue of section 4 (72 hour detention) is generally regarded as the
last ditch option. It is for the genuine emergency where delay in
waiting for the consultant psychiatrist or other approved section 12
doctor poses a serious threat to the individuals health.
Frankly, ASWs are very unlikely to support the application for section 4
in most cases.
In our area section 4 applications are regarded as bad practice and is
for dire emergencies. We can usually get hold of a consultant
psychiatrist.
Essentially as GPs we are inevitably going to be called to assess and
initiate the application for a section 2.
Dinesh
-----Original Message-----
From: GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Julian Bradley
Sent: 04 April 2004 21:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: OOH Psychiatry
At 20:12 04/04/04, you wrote:
>If it has not been possible to obtain at least one Recommendation from
a
>doctor who has previous acquaintance, then the Applicant has to state
>why this was the case.
Thanks for all the replies.
If I've read all correctly a GP with no special experience can be the
second doctor perfectly correctly, even without prior knowledge of the
patient, IF IT CAN BE EXPLAINED WHY.
However if I've understood Fay's position, in Birmingham the co-op has
taken a view that its doctors should not be called upon to section
patients
at all, for clinical and medico-legal reasons.
Paul's point about 72 hour detentions is AFAIK legally valid, but around
here SS seem to frown on them and I'm not aware that they're widely
used.
In summary the law probably doesn't need changing to take account of the
OOH changes, but for the moment each co-op needs to seek advice and
decide
its own policy?
Is this correct?
Julian
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