French Public Health Code
In forceIn the event of imminent danger to personal safety, as certified by a medical opinion, the mayor and, in Paris, the police commissioners shall take all necessary provisional measures with regard to persons whose behaviour reveals manifest mental disorder, on condition that they refer the matter within twenty-four hours to the representative of the State in the département, who shall take a decision without delay and, if necessary, issue an order for admission to psychiatric care in the manner provided for in article L. 3213-1. In the absence of a decision by the State representative, these provisional measures lapse after a period of forty-eight hours.
The initial observation and care period referred to in article L. 3211-2-2 takes effect as soon as the provisional measures referred to in the first paragraph come into force.
