DISCHARGE – Discharge of Voluntary Patient, Order of Discharge on the Undertaking of Relatives or Friends, etc, for Due Care of Mentally ill Person (Mental Health Nursing)
Discharge planning begins when the client is admitted, whether it is the hospital, home care, or any other treatment program. The client, and when appropriate, the family must be involved in this process for it to be successful
The patient who is voluntarily admitted to the hospital can leave at any time. The voluntarily admitted patient can be discharged by the staff when maximum benefit has been received from the treatment. Voluntary patients also may request discharge. Two key factors in deciding to release a voluntary psychiatric patient are:
- Assessment of the patient’s competency
- Assessment of the patient’s potential danger to self or others
An involuntarily admitted patient has lost the right to leave the hospital when he or she wishes. If a committed patient leaves before discharge, the staff has the legal obligation to notify the police and courts
DISCHARGE OF VOLUNTARY PATIENT
Patients admitted on voluntary basis, is they request for discharge are obliged to be discharged by the medical officer in charge within 24 hours of receiving the request, provided the medical officer is convinced that the discharge will not harm the interest of the voluntary patient. In such case, the medical officer would constitute a board of two medical officers and seek their opinion. If the board is of the opinion that such voluntary patient needs further treatment in the psychiatric hospital/psychiatric nursing home, the medical officer shall not discharge the voluntary patient but continue his treatment for a period not exceeding 90 days at a time
ORDER OF DISCHARGE ON THE UNDERTAKING OF RELATIVES OR FRIENDS, ETC. FOR DUE CARE OF MENTALLY ILL PERSON
- Where any relative or friend of a mentally ill person detained in a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric nursing home under section 22, 24 or 25 desires that such person shall be delivered over to his care and custody, he may make an application to the medical officer in charge
- Where an application is received, the authority shall, on such relative or friend furnishing a bond, with or without sureties for such amount as such authority may specify in this behalf, undertaking to take proper care of such mentally ill person, and ensuring that the mentally ill person shall be prevented from causing injury to himself or to others, make an order of discharge and thereupon the mentally ill person shall be discharged
DISCHARGE OF PERSON SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND ON INQUISITION TO BE OF SOUND MIND
If any person detained in a psychiatric hospital or nursing home in pursuance of a reception order made under this Act is subsequently found, on an inquisition, to be of sound mind is capable of taking care of himself and managing his affairs the medical officer in charge shall forthwith on the production of a copy of such finding duly certified by the District Court, discharge such person from such hospital or nursing home
Apart from Admission and Discharge detailed procedures have been laid down under various sections of the MHA for (to mention a few)
- Being taken into custody by the police, confinement and security of mentally ill persons or prisoners in a mental hospital
- Ensuring proper care and custody to a mentally ill person by his legal relatives, through the police stations
- For safety in hospital or during leave or absence or transfer to another hospital
- Safe custody and protection of property of the patient. Physical or mental cruelty to mentally ill patients is forbidden. Similarly, conduct of research on a mentally ill patient is forbidden, unless voluntarily consent from patient or relative is obtained. The human rights of a mentally ill person are protected penalties and fines for contravening the provisions of the Act have been discussed in various sections of the MHA
