Mental Health Admission and Client Rights

There are two types of admission and discharge in Mental Health Care :

Voluntary Admission

• Client agree to accept treatment
• Civil rights are retained fully by the client and the client is free to sign out of the hospital
• The client has the right to demand and receive release
• Any client of lawful age may apply in writing for admission to the hospital

Involuntary Admission

• Client who has legal capacity to consent to mental health treatment refuses to do so and is detained involuntarily for treatment by the state
• It is necessary when a client is mentally ill and is a danger to self or other and need of psychiatric treatment and physical care
• The client who involuntary admitted to mental health care can be categorized for evaluation and emergency care, certification for observation and treatment, or extended and indeterminate commitment.
• This client does not lose his or her right of informed consent

The client who is admitted to mental health care (voluntary or involuntary) will have “client right” to :

• Accessible health care
• Courteous and individualized health care
• Coordination and continuity of health care
• Get the information about the qualifications, names, and titles of personal giving care
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Refuse observation by those not directly involved in care
• Informed consent
• Treatment
• Information about diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment
• Information on the charges of services
• Communicate with people outside the hospital through correspondence, telephone, and personal visits
• Be employed
• Religious freedom
• Execute wills
• Retains in licenses, privileges, or permits established by law
• Treatment in the least restrictive setting
• Not to be subjected to unnecessary restraints