S4 One Doctor — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ
Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.
Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: B — One
Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · A = shown as C
B is correct. A section 4 emergency application for detention for assessment is initially founded on one medical recommendation. It may be used only where the criteria for section 2 are met, detention is urgently necessary, and obtaining the usual second recommendation would cause undesirable delay. Two recommendations are ordinarily required for a section 2 application, so A is the most plausible distractor. However, section 4 temporarily permits admission on one recommendation; it does not remove the need for medical evidence altogether. The section expires after 72 hours unless a second recommendation is received and the detention is converted to section 2. Three and four recommendations are not required.
Reference: Mental Health Act 1983, section 4(3)–(4), and Department of Health, Mental Health Act 1983: Code of Practice, Chapter 15, paragraphs 15.1–15.4 (2015). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/20/pdfs/ukpga_19830020_en.pdf