title: [Involuntary admission of addict during early pregnancy].
abstract: A 30-year-old cocaine-dependent woman was 16 weeks pregnant. Because of possible endangerment of the fetus, an involuntary provisional admission was authorized. Of particular interest is the application of the Dutch Act on Formal Admissions to Psychiatric Hospitals for the primary diagnosis 'addiction' and the fact that the fetus was regarded as a legal 'other'. In severe cases of addiction combined with pregnancy an earlier intervention is needed and arrangement of accelerated legal custody of the newborn before birth should be considered. For the protection of the unborn, we advocate a stricter application of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Information for addicted women with preconception counselling can help prevent a compulsory admission.
authors.affiliation: GGz Centraal, afd. Meerzicht, ambulatorium Volwassenen, Lelystad, the Netherlands. a.hondius@ggzcentraal.nl
authors.forename: Adger J K
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hondius
authors.forename: Tineke E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Stikker
authors.forename: J M B Hanneke
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wennink
authors.forename: Adriaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D007229:Infant Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007603:Jurisprudence; D033261:Maternal-Fetal Relations; D009426:Netherlands; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D014933:Women's Rights