Voluntary

Patient Presents to Hospital with:

1. Symptoms of mental disorder
2. Illness may be risk to self or others Form 3:

Admission
3. Decline in function
4. Lack or supports
Medical Report
• Physician examines person under 16
after being admitted to determine
Forms 1,2, & 3 Willing to engage mental status of the patient.
• Reports written and signed by
Section 20. of Mental Health Act
in treatment? physician.
• Review required once a month for
the first 2 months, then within 3
What is a Voluntary Admission? months after the second exam,
• Person admitted to a psychiatric hospital after then within 6 months of the third
agreeing to receive the treatment and care voluntarily exam & every 6 months after.
(Psychiatric Patient Ad vocate Office, 2016).
• Parent/guardian apply for the status of voluntary
Yes No (British Columbia Ministry of Health, 2005)

admission on person under 16 years of age.

(Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office, 2016)

Criteria:
1. Requires observation and treatment.
Involuntary Status
2. Admitted for psychiatric assessment (Form 1); or
involuntary admission or renewal forms (3 or 4) expired.
3. Change in Admission Status.
4. Admitted for medical treatment, but physician Request Voluntary
detemines a need for psychiatric treatment, patient No longer suitable
agrees. Admission
(Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office, 2016) for Voluntary status
Request for Admission
• Person (16+ years) or parents/guardian (for person Change from voluntary to Involuntary:
under 16) must voluntarily request admission.
• No longer engaging in treatment, and meets the
• Physician agrees to admit this person.
criteria for certification, continue as involuntary.
• Patient (or Guardian if under 16), and witness
(physician) must sign upon admission. Complete Form 1 • Too ill to be legally capable of making a valid
request for admission or of consent to treatment.
(British Columbia Ministry of Health, 2005) • Leaving facility while at risk of harming them
selves or others, police may be asked to apprehend
Consent for Treatment the patient under section 28 Warrant for
Apprehension of a Person Believed to Mentally
• Patient or guardian must give informed consent to Disordered and Dangerous to be at Large of the
treatment, but may discharge themselves at any time. MHA.
• Report written by physician describing the treatments, (British Columbia Ministry of Health, 2005)
assessments and interventions that they may receive.
• Facility should not be providing treatment without the
consent form signed by patient and witness.
Complete Form 2 When a voluntary patient wishes to leave:
(British Columbia Ministry of Health, 2005) • Physician should examine the patient before
patient leaves to make sure that the patient does not
meet the criteria for admission as in voluntary
Review Patient Rights admission; patient may be detained for examination
• Educate to ensure patient rights are understood. before being allowed to leave.
• Rights include having basic human rights respected, • An application for psychiatric assessment (Form 1)
the right to services that promotes mental wellness issued if meets the criteria met for continued
and recovery, positive attitude towards mental illness, assessment.
and a right to privacy from the mental health system • Patient may be asked to sign a document which
in British Columbia. states that the patient is leaving the hospital against
• The Mental Health Act does not allow voluntary Patient Rights medical advice (AMA).
patients to be restrained; Patient can be restrained
(Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office, 2016)
if they pose a threat to harm himself, staff, or other
patients (the physician must quickly assess if patient
needs to be admitted involuntarily - if no then
restraints should be removed immediately. Important Facts:
(British Columbia Ministry of Health, 2005) & (Psychiatric Patient Advocate • Persons may be admitted involuntarily even if they are
Office, 2016)
willing to be voluntarily admitted.
• If inept to consent to admission, a temporary
Nursing Role: substtute decision maker (TDSM) can be chosen by
• Respect patient. the patient to consent on their behalf.
• Include in decision making. • Involuntarily admitted patient may become a voluntary
• Inform of legal rights, admission and treatments. Engage in Treatment patient by requesting voluntary status from attending
• Monitor the care provided and perform assess ments to physician.
determine health and social needs. • Discharged person from involuntary status by a review
• Include patient in care planning. panel may be admitted as a voluntary patient.
• Answer questions and tend to needs at the best of your (British Columbia Ministry of Health, 2005)
ability.
• Provide patient with available resources.
Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing Students of Kwantlen Polytechnic University:
(College of Psychiatric Nurses of Canada, 2013)
Devon Turkington, Harleen Gill, Jot Brar, Maegan White, & Shabnum Javed