Hello,
Can I please ask for advice for a scenario which came up while on call as a section 12 doctor re validity of first medical recommendations under the MHA.
A patient was assessed in A&E under the MHA and a first medical recommendation was completed by a section 12 dr. An AMPH and an independent section 12 doctor then reviewed and decided not to detain and to send the patient home with crisis team support.
However, on discharge home, the patient deteriorated and they were clearly too unwell to go home, and were brought back into A&E and did not return home. The shift had changed so the staff were different, but the duty AMPH then refused to see the patient again for a MHAA until a second first medical recommendation was completed.
My understanding is that the first medical recommendation still stands (for up to 5 days?) and that a new AMPH and independent second opinion doctor can come back and complete the MHAA as the first medical recommendation is still valid. Is this correct? Or does the first decision by the AMPH and independent render the first med rec invalid? Despite the clear deterioration of the patient.
Many thanks!