This paper examines the practice of involuntary mental hospitalization through examination of criteria used for commitment in a sample of 200 civil commitment certificates. Special reference is made, following previous research, to criteria used to describe the person deemed dangerous to himself or to others. The relevance of the findings of present practices in mental health is discussed. New procedures which facilitate presentation of factual evidence, and which eliminate gratuitous information, are required without delay.
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PageS., YatesE.: Civil commitment and the danger mandate.Can Psychiatr Assoc J, 18: 267–271, 1973.
