Professor Matthew Sadlier:

I might come in on that and pass over to my GP colleague to give some examples from her practice. The issue whereby the authorised officer has to approve every involuntary detention is a false solution to the problem. The idea that it destigmatises the relationship between the family member and the person who is involuntarily detained is not necessarily true because, obviously, it will be the family member who will have called the authorised officer, who will have to sign the forms. I am not sure, therefore, that it will necessarily solve the animosity problem. It is a bit like saying that, if there were a car crash, the family could not call an ambulance but rather would have to call somebody else who would then arrive on the scene and determine whether an ambulance should be called. Most of these involuntary detentions, when a family signs for one, occur in a moment of crisis. They happen when there is not necessarily time for a calm period of reflection or to wait for somebody to arrive. I am sure Dr. Brides, as a general practitioner, will have much more experience of managing these cases in the community, so I will pass to her.