[The right to complain under the BOPZ Act (Formal Admissions to Psychiatric Hospitals): experiences in psychogeriatrics].

The Act on Formal Admissions to Psychiatric Hospitals (BOPZ) enables psychogeriatric patients to complain. According to a BOPZ evaluation study concerning the right to complain, which was held in 1995 and 1996, the current procedure to complain appears to be inadequate for psychogeriatric patients. The Act on the right to complain, which came into force recently, didn't improve this procedural inadequacy. We suggest to improve the right to complain both at the level of government as at the institutional level. The right to complain could thus contribute substantially to the legal position of the psychogeriatric patient and the quality of health care. The introduction of a client informant is recommended.