Section aac2, Mental Health Act 1983 LCREM

Section aac2, Mental Health Act 1983 LCREM

The section of the UK’s Mental Health Act 1983 which guides the period of assessment (and treatment) of a person with (serious) mental illness, which lasts for up to 28 days and is not renewable.
Patients' appeals—against a Section 2 recommendation—must be sent within 14 days to the mental health tribunal (composed of a doctor, a lay person and lawyer). An Approved Mental Health Professional or the nearest relative makes the application on the recommendation of 2 doctors, one of whom is “approved” under Section 12(2) of the Act (in practice, a consultant psychiatrist or a specialist registrar of sufficient experience); the second medical recommendation is given by a doctor who knows the patient personally in a professional capacity. If this is not possible, the Code of Practice recommends that the second doctor should be an “approved” doctor.