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CTO and Travel — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ

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HardMental Health LawCTO and TravelMRCPsych Paper B

A 45-year-old man in England with schizophrenia is stable on a community treatment order under section 17A of the Mental Health Act 1983 following detention under section 3. He is not subject to any criminal restriction. He proposes a 2-week trip abroad, during which a scheduled depot injection and a discretionary CTO condition requiring residence at his supported accommodation would fall due. Which statement most accurately describes the legal and clinical position?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: C — The CTO does not itself prohibit travel; the responsible clinician should review the risks and care plan and may vary or suspend affected conditions while practical treatment arrangements are made

The correct answer is C. A section 17A CTO does not automatically prevent a patient from travelling abroad and need not be ended solely because of the trip. However, the responsible clinician should undertake an individual clinical and risk review, consider the feasibility of monitoring and contingency planning, and arrange medication, including any depot injection. Under the Code of Practice, the responsible clinician may vary or suspend discretionary CTO conditions to accommodate a temporary absence or changed treatment arrangements. Ministry of Justice permission is relevant to certain restricted forensic patients, not this unrestricted section 3 patient. Neither the nearest relative's consent nor prior termination of the CTO is legally required. Practical limitations on responding to deterioration abroad should nevertheless inform whether the proposed arrangements are safe.

Reference: Department of Health, Mental Health Act 1983: Code of Practice, chapter 29, paragraphs 29.40–29.43, 2015. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/396918/Code_of_Practice.pdf