A court can order the placement of a mentally ill person in a psychiatric hospital against their will.
A medical examination must take place beforehand.
The mentally ill person must be accommodated, treated and cared for in such a way that the interference with their personal freedom is minimised. However, they must tolerate measures that ensure safety and order in the institution or protect themselves.
Special security measures that largely or completely remove a person's ability to move (restraint involving deprivation of liberty) for more than a short period of time are only permitted at the request of the recognised facility providing treatment following a prior court order. This does not apply in the event of imminent danger if such an order is issued.
Children and adolescents should be accommodated and cared for separately in accordance with their illness and stage of development. Treatment should take place in specialised child and adolescent psychiatric wards.
During the placement, the mentally ill person is entitled to the necessary treatment. The treatment also includes examination measures as well as measures that are necessary to enable the accommodated person to live independently in the community after release.
Treatment requires the consent of the person accommodated. Consent must be based on the free will of the person capable of giving consent.
The person must have been adequately informed by a doctor beforehand. However, the consent of the person accommodated is not required if, due to their illness, they are unable to recognise the necessity of the treatment in order to prevent further harm.
Treatment against the person's will requires a court order, with the exception of treatment to avert danger to life or a current significant danger to the health of the person or third parties.