Étude du vécu et de la compréhension par les patients hospitalisés sans consentement de l'audience devant le juge des libertés et de la détention

Systematic judicial review of involuntary hospitalization represents a major evolution in the patients' rights field. This study shows that their experience and understanding of the hearing with the judge ruling on civil detention cases are quite mixed. In clinical practice, informing the patient about the upcoming hearing may allow the physician who initiates the hospitalization to reassure him/her as the intervention of a third party will be required to confirm the legality of involuntary admission. Furthermore, such information about the judicial intervention might avoid unproductive confrontation between the patient and the physician when the person remains opposed to the hospitalization. However, some patients may be disappointed as they are heavily invested in the preparation of their “defence” and have high hopes in the intervention of a judge who most often maintains the hospitalization.