Schweinfurt: 70-year-old endangers neighbors – permanent psychiatric care?

Schweinfurt: 70-year-old endangers neighbors – permanent psychiatric care?

The courts are currently dealing with a very dramatic case: a 70-year-old man could be permanently committed to a psychiatric hospital because he poses a danger to the general public. The Schweinfurt regional court will decide on Tuesday how to proceed meincharivari.de reported. An expert diagnosed the man with bipolar disorder, which causes severe mood swings. There is also suspicion of dementia.

Over the past two years, the man has repeatedly exhibited criminal behavior. Despite an existing ban on entering the premises, he is said to have appeared at a supermarket in Gerolzhofen, where he injured and threatened the store manager and an employee. There was another incident in February 2024 when he fled from officers during a police check and reached speeds of up to 80 km/h in the city center. He also threatened tenants in his apartment building several times, including when he met a woman at whose door he stood with a running chainsaw and intimidated her.

Legal basis of compulsory admission

Due to the seriousness of his crimes, compulsory admission to a psychiatric facility is now being discussed. Such a measure is usually carried out in accordance with the Mental Health Act or §1906 BGB, such as dgbs.de explained. It is necessary that the man concerned poses a danger either to himself or to others. The admission must be ordered by a doctor and, if necessary, supported by the police and the emergency doctor.

The need for compulsory treatment will of course also be examined during the legal proceedings. Like that Medical Journal describes, it is necessary that the coercive measure serves to protect the person concerned or third parties. In addition, compulsory treatment must be considered as a last resort. Many factors must be taken into account here, including the lack of insight of the person concerned due to the illness and the presumed will in the sense of a living will or prior consent.

The further procedure

Approval for compulsory treatment is usually limited to a maximum of six weeks, but in urgent cases it can also be limited to two weeks. Before making any such decision, the court must obtain the expert opinion to verify the facts. If the man needs to be restrained during the procedure, this will usually be done without medical support, which can pose particular challenges.

The essence of this legal framework is the balance between the protection of the individual and the rights provided for by the law. Given the circumstances, it remains to be seen how the court in Schweinfurt will decide on this basis. The case highlights the complex issue of forced admission and compulsory treatment of mentally ill people.