Forensic psychiatry: Mental Healthcare Act 2017, admission: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Forensic psychiatry: Mental Healthcare Act 2017, admission

Sample item

A 35-year-old woman with severe depression, who has capacity to make decisions, wishes to be admitted to a mental health establishment. Under the Mental Healthcare Act 2017, which route applies?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Independent admission on her own request

A person who has capacity can seek independent admission under the Mental Healthcare Act 2017. Supported admission is for people with high support needs or lacking capacity, and for minors, through a nominated representative. The Board is not involved in routine independent admission.

Option by option

  • A. Admission under a magistrate's reception order

    Reception orders belonged to the earlier 1987 Act and are not the route here.

  • B. Admission only after the Mental Health Review Board approves

    The Board does not approve routine independent admissions.

  • C. Independent admission on her own request (correct)

    Correct. A person with capacity may request independent admission.

  • D. Supported admission through her nominated representative

    Supported admission is for persons who lack capacity, not a person with capacity.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Independent admission on her own request. A person who has capacity can seek independent admission under the Mental Healthcare Act 2017.

Why is "Admission under a magistrate's reception order" not the answer?

Reception orders belonged to the earlier 1987 Act and are not the route here.

Why is "Admission only after the Mental Health Review Board approves" not the answer?

The Board does not approve routine independent admissions.

Why is "Supported admission through her nominated representative" not the answer?

Supported admission is for persons who lack capacity, not a person with capacity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Forensic psychiatry: Mental Healthcare Act 2017, admission in Forensic Medicine. Supported admission is for people with high support needs or lacking capacity, and for minors, through a nominated representative. The Board is not involved in routine independent admission.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Forensic psychiatry: Mental Healthcare Act 2017, admission?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.