Involuntary Hospitalization across the EU Member States. Emphasis on the examples of Greece and the UK

      Аннотация: Acute admissions to psychiatric hospitals are sensitive clinical procedures, especially if performed on the legally defined basis of involuntariness. Their massive impact on the liberty and freedom of the persons concerned has triggered a number of legal and ethical discussions at European level. The different legal traditions and approaches dominating in Europe make cross-national harmonization still look like an over-optimistic scenario. Thus, this book describes the legal frameworks and routine procedures of involuntary hospitalization in the European Union Member States and examines the compliance of these countries with the Human Rights Safeguards. Moreover, it makes a comparison between two characteristic examples of involuntary hospitalization regimes, Greece and the UK, emphasizing the advantages and disadvantages of each. Finally, it points out the necessity to increase the harmony of the laws, acts and procedures across the Member States. It is necessary to have a stable common ground that could regulate the significant subject of involuntary hospitalization and lead countries towards a human-rights direction. This book offers practical recommendations in this direction.

Ключевые слова: ADMISSION, Consent, EU, Europe, Greece, Hospitalization, mental health, Treatment, UK, involuntary