Incapable adults and informal admission: lifting the veil of deceit.

Since 1959, informal admission has been used for the admission of non-resisting adults to hospital for treatment of their mental health problems. The Court of Appeal has ruled this practice unlawful. As a consequence, certain issues in relation to the admission and management of these patients will have to be reconsidered and while there will be positive repercussions for the management of patients there will also be some negative effects. This article considers the implications.