involuntary patient

You’re an involuntary patient if your doctor signs a “certificate of involuntary admission”. This can only happen after your doctor:

• examines you to confirm you currently have a mental disorder or you have a mental disorder that comes and goes, and
• believes that your mental disorder will cause serious harm to you or someone else unless you stay in a psychiatric facility.

Only an involuntary patient can be held in a psychiatric facility against their will.