In the last six years, 537 psychiatry patients who were hospitalised against their will have appealed this decision. This represents an average of just under 90 cases per year which have been filed with the district courts in Luxembourg City and Diekirch.
In the parliamentary response published earlier this week, Lenert said it was not standard practice for any of Luxembourg’s 5 psychiatric wards to administer medication or sedatives to patients against their will.
Goergen had queried the number of people placed in psychiatric wards since the law came into force in 2009, as well as requesting information on the number of patients discharged. Lenert replied that the Ministry of Health did not have any centralised data from the 5 wards across the country.
Goergen also requested that regular reports on the wards be published on the Ministry’s website, which Lenert said would be feasible.
Patients who have been committed against their will have the option to appeal their hospitalisation at any time. In addition, Lenert explained there were two commissions which periodically examine patients’ files and determine whether the patient should be discharged.
