Better treatment for psychiatric patients avoiding health care: discussion on legislation should not be isolated from other factors and considerations
Legemaate, J.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 148(23): 1130-1133
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 15211961 Document Number: 575725
Does the present Formal Admissions to Psychiatric Hospitals Act (BOPZ) hinder rather than facilitate good psychiatric care? This question is being asked more and more often. The Dutch Psychiatric Society recently advocated a new law that provides more possibilities for involuntary admission and treatment. International regulations emphasize the necessity to be reluctant with the use of coercion but leave room for a broader and more differentiated approach than can be found in the present Dutch Act. However, it is important to recognize the influence of other factors as well, e.g. the organization of mental-health care and the competencies of the health-care workers. There are good reasons to replace the present Dutch Act, but this should not be done overnight. Careful consideration is called for and empirical research should be stimulated.