Section aaf5(4), Mental Health Act 1983 LCREM

Section aaf5(4), Mental Health Act 1983 LCREM

A section of the Mental Health Act which allows any authorised psychiatric nurse to use force (for up to 6 hours) to detain a voluntary patient who is taking his or her own discharge against medical advice, if such a discharge would be likely to involve serious harm to the patient (e.g. suicide) or to others. During the 6 hours, the nurse must find the necessary personnel to sign a Section 5(2) application or allow the patient’s discharge.