[Involuntary patient admission and treatment against patient's will by emergency physicians].
BACKGROUND
The treatment of acutely ill patients who presumably lack the insight or judgement to determine their need for medical treatment, is a difficult challenge for emergency physicians. We have carried out a study to assess the frequency and relevance of involuntary treatment and procedures in medical emergency services.


METHODS
Retrospective chart analysis for a 1-year period was performed for all treatment protocols of a medical emergency service unit and for all court-ordered treatments of a guardianship court. Cases of involuntary treatment by emergency physicians were identified and analysed.


RESULTS
In 10.4% of all emergency calls analysed a relevant and acute psychiatric condition was found. In 0.3% of the cases or 4.8% of the psychiatric cases, involuntary inpatient commitment was chosen by the emergency physician.


CONCLUSIONS
Involuntary inpatient commitment by emergency physicians was only necessary in relatively few cases. Nevertheless, in order to be able to correctly consider treatment and management options, emergency physicians should be aware of the basic conditions for treatment without a patient's consent.
Tonn
P
P
Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik, Mainz. tonn@neu ro-info.de
Reuter
S
S
Weilert
A
A
Rupp
S
S
Friedrich
B
B
Dahmen
N
N
Gerlach
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010820:Physicians; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs