Mental Health Act Section 4

Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Mental health act section 4. Unlike a section 2 or 3 you can be detained with a recommendation from only 1 doctor. Mental health act 1983 section 4 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 29 september 2020. If someone says you re being sectioned under the mental health act they mean you re detained according to a particular section of the mental health act.

In most cases you ll be told which section of the mental health act applied in your case. Section 4 is used in emergencies where only 1 doctor is available at short notice. You can be kept for up to 72 hours.

It requires only one medical recommendation from a doctor and the application is usually by an approved mental health professional on very rare occasions it can be applied by the nearest relative. This gives the hospital time to arrange a full assessment. Section 4 of the mental health act is an emergency application for detention in hospital for up to 72 hours.

Section 4 emergencies. The doctor must have examined the patient within the previous 24 hours. The mental health act is structured in many sections.

Section 4 allows emergency detainment for the purpose of assessment for a duration of up to 72 hours. Discharge from the mental health act here. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.