Texas State laws for involuntary psychiatric holds for children and adults

Texas State laws for involuntary psychiatric holds for children and adults

Chapter 576 of the Texas Health & Safety Code stipulates that mental health patients have the rights, privileges, and responsibilities safeguarded by the nation’s institution (The State of Texas). The chapter also outlines that the provision of court-ordered, voluntary, and emergency psychological health services to patients is not an indication that the said person is mentally incompetent. As such, their rights are not usually limited, meaning that they enjoy the full property and other forms of legal rights. Despite this legal understanding, there are laws in Texas that allow for the involuntary psychiatric hold of children and adults. For instance, section 5150 of the Welfare & Institutions Code permits the involuntary detention of a mentally-ill patient for 72 hours as they undergo psychiatric treatment by an attending psychiatrist. In making the decision to hold a minor or an adult for involuntary psychiatric services, attending psychiatrists are required by the above section to consider three eligibility criteria (Thapar et al., 2015). According to section 5150, patients are eligible for involuntary psychiatric hold if it is determined that they are a threat to the public or other persons (FERC). Besides, a patient is eligible for involuntary psychiatric hold if it is determined that they pose danger to themselves. For example, in a scenario where an adult has indicated signs of attempted suicide, the attending psychiatrist may consider admitting the patient to an involuntary psychiatric hold. The other eligibility criterion that may determine if a patient is to be subjected to an involuntary psychiatrist hold according to section 5150 of the Texas Welfare & Institutions Code is the grave disability (FERC). If a person suffers grave disability as a result of a particular mental health problem, an attending psychiatrist may