[Non-urgent compulsory hospitalization].

The Israel Mental Health Law of 1991 gave authority to the regional psychiatrist to give orders of compulsory hospitalization - urgent and non-urgent. The non-urgent Hospitalization Order applies to conditions of non-immediate danger, in which potential for significant damage or harm to the patient or others is expected. Authority is granted to the District Psychiatric Committee as a body of appeal (before the Hospitalization Order is carried out) and as a tribunal to decide upon continuation after the first two weeks of hospitalization. This article aims to stress the main problems encountered by psychiatrists regarding management and treatment under the Non-Urgent Compulsory Hospitalization Order: 1) Postponing hospitalization or releasing a patient for 24 hours, in order to launch an appeal before receiving any treatment, may facilitate clinical deterioration. The ambiguous waiting period could enhance anxiety, acting out and dangerousness. 2) The article discusses clinical and legal aspects of compulsory hospitalization - both urgent and non-urgent. The diverse problematic issues will be elaborated through three clinical cases, and, when clinically indicated, proposals raised for possible solutions in converting an urgent compulsory order to a non-urgent compulsory order.