Appendix 4 - Mental Health Legislation relating to Emergency Sedation

In medical and psychiatric emergencies for any non detained patient, common law allows treatment to protect patient's life and/or well-being and/or well-being of others. No certification is needed beyond description of the action in the casefile. However any patient who has capacity to make or withhold consent cannot be given medical treatment without that consent. The law provides the remedies below for the treatment of patients incapable to consent to treatment because of mental disorder. Advice can be sought from the Adult Mental Health Liaison Service; details on referral processes outlined here.

Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000

A patient who is incapable of making decisions about medical treatment can be given "any procedure or treatment designed to safeguard or promote physical or mental health" under section 47 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 in the absence of consent, subject to the principles of that Act. This requires the medical practitioner primarily responsible for the medical treatment of the adult i.e. usually their medical / surgical Consultant or General Practitioner to issue a section 47 Certificate of Incapacity.

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

The Act allows for the administration of medication to treat mental disorder (includes acutely disturbed behaviour secondary to delirium and dementia) without and/or against consent of patient. It does not allow administration of non-psychiatric treatments without consent.

In medical emergencies for any detained patient, section 243, Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 allows the administration of medical treatment, without consent to:

  • Save the patient's life
  • Prevent serious deterioration in the patient's condition
  • Alleviate serious suffering on the part of the patient
  • Prevent the patient behaving violently and/or being a danger to themselves or others.

Following this treatment the administering doctor has a responsibility to inform the Mental Welfare Commission of their action within 7 days and to inform the patient's Responsible Medical Officer.

 

Guideline reviewed February 2022
Page updated February 2022



;