Mental Health Act criteria, capacity, and least-restrictive care

This is a compulsory treatment / detention problem, not a simple capacitous medical refusal. Capacity law governs informed consent/refusal for medical interventions; the Mental Health Act is a separate statute for people with mental illness who meet risk and least-restrictive criteria and will not accept necessary treatment.^[1]

Document the criteria (local wording varies): mental illness of a nature/degree warranting treatment; risk to health/safety of self or others; refusal or inability to consent; no less-restrictive alternative works.^[1]

^[1]ED actions: safety; exclude organic disease; involve psychiatry/statutory assessors; complete lawful forms; offer voluntary options first if safe.

^[1]If sedation needed: de-escalate verbally first; use local rapid-tranquillisation protocol; goal calm and rousable; monitor airway/ventilation; avoid dangerous drug combinations.