Right to discharge?

sarah1010_2

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong thread.....

My sister has had anorexia for nearly 20 years, she was pushed into treatment by her gp. She is seeing a dietician and nurse every week (eating disorder team). She has a low bmi but her bloods and ecg are normal (done weekly). She has had a psychological assessment and has been told that she can't be sectionned.
She wants to discharge herself - can she do this?.....she says that she has the right to discharge herself whenever she wishes - is this correct?
Any advice would be grateful - thanks.

tomtontom

If she is receiving treatment voluntarily she can refuse further treatment. If her clinical team feel she is putting herself at significant risk in doing this then they can put her under a section order - irrespective of what she has been told at an earlier date. She would be better to work with her team, voicing her concerns if need be, than be subject to compulsory treatment.

Armchair23

Yes as tomtontom says your sister can discharge herself, but the team can seek a section order if they feel she doesn't have the mental capacity to make that decision.

http://www.b-eat.co.uk/ and other support groups might be the best way of working out what would be a way forward.