French Public Health Code
In forceI.-The care programme provided for in article L. 3211-2-1 is drawn up and modified by a psychiatrist who participates in the care of the person undergoing psychiatric care pursuant to chapters II and III of this title orarticle 706-135 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
This document mentions the identity of the psychiatrist who draws it up, that of the patient and the latter's usual place of residence.
II - The care programme indicates whether the patient's care includes one or more of the methods mentioned in 2° of article L. 3211-2-1 as well as the existence of medication prescribed as part of psychiatric care.
It specifies, where applicable, the arrangements for the stay in a health facility or the frequency of outpatient or home consultations or visits and, if this is foreseeable, the length of time for which this care will be provided. It mentions all the places where this care is provided.
The programme does not include any information on the nature and manifestations of the mental disorders from which the patient suffers, nor any clinical observations, nor the mention or results of complementary examinations.
When the programme includes the existence of a medicinal treatment, it does not mention the nature or details of this treatment, in particular the speciality, dosage, galenic form, dosage, method of administration and duration.
III - The drawing up of the programme and any modifications to it are preceded by an interview during which the psychiatrist obtains the patient's opinion, in order to allow him to make his observations. During this interview, the psychiatrist gives the patient the information provided for in II of article L. 3211-2-1 and tells him in particular that the care programme may be modified at any time to take account of changes in his state of health and that he may propose full hospitalisation, particularly in the event of non-compliance with this programme likely to lead to a deterioration in his state of health. Mention of this interview is made on the care programme and in the patient's medical file.
A psychiatrist involved in the patient's care may modify the programme at any time to adapt it to the patient's state of health.
The psychiatrist forwards the programme of care and any amending programmes to the director of the institution when they have the effect of substantially changing the way in which the patient is cared for.
IV -Where the decision to provide psychiatric care has been taken in application of chapter III of this title or article 706-135 of the code of criminal procedure, the director of the health care establishment will immediately send a copy of the care programme provided for in article L. 3211-2-1 and the medical certificate provided for in the third paragraph of article L. 3211-2-2 to the prefect of the department or, in Paris, to the police prefect. It sends him the following programmes accompanying the medical certificates mentioned in article L. 3211-11 and I of article L. 3213-3.
The representative of the State or, in Paris, the Prefect of Police, is informed of any modification to the care programme when this has the effect of substantially changing the way in which the patient is cared for, in order to enable him/her, if necessary, to issue a new order. To this end, the director of the establishment will send him the medical certificate proposing the substantial modification to the programme of care, as well as the opinion of the college referred to in article L. 3211-9.
V.-The decisions of the directors of the establishment and the prefectoral orders deciding on or modifying the form of care, as well as the accompanying care programmes, are given to the patient by a member of the healthcare team of the host health establishment or the structure providing the patient's care.
