Absconding patient scenario

  • What is the risk to patient if they leave before being assessed?
  • Ideally, if patient is threatening to leave but has not left:
    • senior decision maker to de-escalate and assess
    • assess patient's reason for wanting to leave
    • assess patient's capacity
  • Restraint is a clinical decision
  • Call patient directly
  • Contact NOK
  • Contact police only as a last resort if:
    • real and immediate risk to life
    • police involvement would be a proportionate response
    • no other person or service can facilitate return of patient

police cannot bring patient back against their will UNLESS:

  • under arrest
  • under Section 136... if police believe patient suffering from mental illness
  • person is at risk and vulnerable

#mrcem-osce #osce-complex-challenging

The patient under section 136

See The absconding patient - RCEM has specific guidelines