[Psychiatric commitments. Medicolegal aspects]

Compulsory hospitalization of mentally ill patients in a psychiatric center is a controversial issue due to the problems affecting their management, mainly coordination between health services and the police forces. This subject has been reviewed with major focus on Spanish Law, and also the medicolegal aspects the health professionals have to cope with. We can distinguish two types of psychiatric admissions considering the consent of the patient: a) voluntary or b) compulsory hospitalization. The Spanish Law "Ley 1/2000 de Enjuiciamiento Civil", explains the procedure on the involuntary admission of mentally ill patients.