informal patient
A patient who is admitted to a hospital or place of care for treatment of a mental disorder but who is not being detained under section 131 of the Mental Health Act. The great majority of such patients have consented to their admission and treatment and are therefore known as voluntary patients. They are not subject to any restrictions on leaving the place of care and may refuse any proposed treatment. A non-voluntary informal patient is one who lacks the capacity to consent to admission but who is nevertheless judged to require treatment in his best interest. Such patients previously fell into the so-called Bournewood gap but are now protected by the provisions of the amended Mental Capacity Act 2005 (see Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards). |