[Marginal case of a practice fee for psychiatric emergency service]

Since 1 January 2004, the German Act for the Modernisation of Health Insurance (GMG) has regulated collection of a so-called practice fee-a charge to patients for their first outpatient health care in any given quarter. We report the case of a slightly inebriated patient who, against his will, was taken to a psychiatric outpatient department by local authorities, where he had to pay the quarterly charge of 10 EUR. Considering that he was forced and therefore had to pay the fee against his will, the present regulation is being discussed with respect to legal and moral implications in psychiatric emergency cases.