Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The validity of commitment certificates in British Columbia.

J Paredes1, A Kanachowski, B Ledwidge

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, B.C.

Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie
|May 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

A review of mental health commitment forms in British Columbia hospitals found that nearly a third did not meet legal requirements. Clarity in the Mental Health Act and medical certificates is needed to improve physician compliance.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Ultrasound propagation speed and mass changes by application of different accelerated artificial ageing tests in granitic materials.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle owned by smallholders in Southern Chile.

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2025
Same author

Impact of breast cancer cells´ secretome on the brain metastatic niche remodeling.

Seminars in cancer biology·2019
Same author

Antibody biosensors for spoilage yeast detection based on impedance spectroscopy.

Biosensors & bioelectronics·2017
Same author

Atomic force microscopy and graph analysis to study the P-cadherin/SFK mechanotransduction signalling in breast cancer cells.

Nanoscale·2016
Same author

Universal rescaling of flow curves for yield-stress fluids close to jamming.

Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics·2015

Area of Science:

  • Medical Law
  • Psychiatry
  • Health Administration

Background:

  • Involuntary psychiatric commitment requires specific documentation.
  • Compliance with legal requirements for committal forms is crucial for patient rights and legal validity.
  • Physician understanding and adherence to the Mental Health Act are essential for proper commitment procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the content and legal compliance of committal forms used in British Columbia hospitals.
  • To identify deficiencies in the documentation process for psychiatric commitments.
  • To provide recommendations for improving the clarity and accuracy of commitment forms and related legislation.

Main Methods:

  • A survey of committal forms from two B.C. hospitals was conducted.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Demographic and psychiatric history profiles were created for 100 patients (50 from a provincial mental hospital, 50 from a general hospital ward).
  • Medical certificates were evaluated against the requirements of the B.C. Mental Health Act.

    • Main Results:

    • Out of 198 rated forms (two per patient), 137 (69.2%) complied with the B.C. Mental Health Act.
    • While the psychiatric hospital had more valid forms, the difference was not statistically significant.
    • Fifty patients had a legally valid combination of medical certificates.

    Conclusions:

    • A significant portion of psychiatric committal forms do not meet current legal standards.
    • Vague and unclear wording within the Mental Health Act contributes to documentation errors.
    • Recommendations include revising the Act's definitions and rewording the medical certificate to assist physicians.