Galician psychiatrists warn of risks from new involuntary admission law

Psychiatrists in Galicia have expressed serious concerns regarding a new regulation governing involuntary psychiatric admissions, set to take effect on Friday, October 23. The specialists warn that the law could prevent timely intervention in cases of severe mental and physical health deterioration, potentially leaving patients with conditions such as anorexia or psychosis without adequate care.

The controversy stems from Article 13 bis of Law 4/2026, which aims to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities. The provision prohibits involuntary hospitalizations based on disability unless a crisis directly threatens the life of the patient or others.

José Ramón Silveira, head of Psychiatry at the Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña and president of the Galician Association of Psychiatry, stated that restricting admissions to only "vital emergencies" makes it difficult to ensure patient well-being. The Galician Association of Psychiatry has joined the Spanish Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health in warning of the legal uncertainty this reform may create.