Table 2

Procedure for Involuntary Admission

ShanghaiNingboHangzhouBeijingWuxiWuhanShenzhenDraft 1Draft 2National Law
Medical protective admission
    Initial assessmentAttending psychiatristPsychiatristPsychiatristPsychiatrist (2 years' experience)PsychiatristPsychiatristAttending psychiatristPsychiatristPsychiatristPsychiatrist
    Deciding authorityGuardianGuardianGuardianGuardians or next of kinGuardianGuardianGuardianGuardian or next of kinGuardian or next of kinGuardian
    Maximum lengthNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDND
    ReassessmentMonthlyNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDND
Emergency admission
    Initial assessmentTwo psychiatrists (1 attending psychiatrist)––Two attending psychiatristsTwo attending psychiatrists–Attending psychiatristsTwo psychiatristsTwo psychiatristsPsychiatrist
    Deciding authority–––
        PoliceYes––YesYes–YesYesNoNo
        Affiliated unitsYes––NoYes–NoNoYesYes
        Neighborhood/villager committeesYes––NoNo–NoNoYesYes
    Maximum detention72 h––NDND–ND72 hNDND
    Review process
        Stage I
            Confirm the diagnosisYesYesYesYesYesYesNDNDNDND
            Confirm the necessity for admissionNDNDNDNDNDNDYesYesYesYes*
            Confirmation of the diagnosis by another mental health institutionNDNDNDNDNDNDYesYesYes*Yes*
            Maximum wait for review6 mo6 mo1 mo3 mo3 mo1 mo5 d5 d5 dND
        Stage II
            Review by forensic psychiatristYesNDNDNDNDNDYesYesYesYes*
            ReassessmentNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDYesND
            Maximum wait for reviewNDNDNDNDNDNDND7 d5 dND

  • ND, not defined.

  • ↵* For patients with risk to others.