LEGAL RIGHTS OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS:

When a patient is admitted in psychiatric hospital he may be deprived of  the freedom  to leave the hospital, and also to maintain certain legal rights. The rights are sometimes defined  by  state law and nursing personnel should know the law in the state in which they practice. The important legal rights are as follows. 

• Unless the person  is declared incompetent,  he maintains the right to vote, to manage his financial affairs and to execute legal documents. 
• Right  not  to be denied the basic necessities of  life in the name of  treatment 
• Right to treatment doctrine and not guilty by  reasons of  insanity and committed crimes. 
• Voluntary patient has a right to refuse treatment.  e.g. ECT and psychosurgery. 
• An involuntary patient can't  sign the bill and transfer his property by making will. 
• Right to receive mail and contact with relatives, friends  by using telephone. 
• Right to have visitors for reasonable time. 
• Right  to have human and physical environment, & sufficient qualified staff personnel to look after them. 
• Right not  to be subjected  to unnecessary mechanical restraints. 
• Right to confidentiality of  records.