LEGAL RIGHTS OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS:
When a patient is admitted in psychiatric hospital he may be deprived of the freedom to leave the hospital, and also to maintain certain legal rights. The rights are sometimes defined by state law and nursing personnel should know the law in the state in which they practice. The important legal rights are as follows.
- Unless the person is declared incompetent, he maintains the right to vote, to manage his financial affairs and to execute legal documents.
- Right not to be denied the basic necessities of life in the name of treatment
- Right to treatment doctrine and not guilty by reasons of insanity and committed crimes.
- Voluntary patient has a right to refuse treatment. e.g. ECT and psychosurgery.
- An involuntary patient can't sign the bill and transfer his property by making will.
- Right to receive mail and contact with relatives, friends by using telephone.
- Right to have visitors for reasonable time.
- Right to have human and physical environment, & sufficient qualified staff personnel to look after them.
- Right not to be subjected to unnecessary mechanical restraints.
- Right to confidentiality of records.