Egypt’s Patient Rights law No. 71 of 2009: Safeguarding Mental Healthcare Access and Patient Safety
Cairo, Egypt – Egypt’s Patient rights Law No. 71 of 2009 establishes crucial safeguards surrounding admission too mental health facilities, prioritizing patient well-being and ensuring appropriate medical oversight. Teh law, designed to protect individuals, mandates that entry into a psychiatric clinic requires the approval of a qualified psychiatrist.
Key Provisions of the Law:
Article 13 outlines the strict conditions under which a patient can be admitted to a mental health facility. Admission is only permissible when a specialist psychiatrist determines the presence of a severe mental illness requiring inpatient treatment. This determination is based on two critical factors:
* Severe Deterioration: A clear and demonstrable decline in the patient’s psychological state.
* imminent Danger: Evidence that the patient’s mental illness poses a serious and immediate threat to their own safety, health, or life, or to the safety, health, or lives of others.
When these conditions are met, the law mandates prompt action to secure necessary treatment. Though, it also
