The police bring a young man to A&E under Section 136. He was found on a bridge threatening to jump. What happens next?
- Section 136 allows police to remove a person who appears to be suffering from a mental disorder from a public place to a place of safety
- Since the Policing and Crime Act 2017, police cells can no longer be used as a place of safety for under-18s and should only be used for adults in exceptional circumstances
- Section 136 lasts up to 24 hours, extendable by a further 12 hours (to 36 hours total) in exceptional circumstances (e.g., patient is medically unfit for assessment)
- The purpose is to enable a Mental Health Act assessment by a Section 12 approved doctor and an AMHP
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How to approach this Psychiatry interview question
This ethics question is common in Psychiatry NHS interviews because it reveals how you think under interview pressure, not just what facts you can recall. Use "The police bring a young man to A&E under Section 136. He was found on a bridge..." as the anchor for a concise answer with a clear opening, a clinical or professional structure, and a reflective close.
What the panel is testing
A strong ethics answer makes the competing duties visible. Name the principle or legal issue, then describe the practical steps you would take in the hospital: gather facts, assess capacity where relevant, seek advice, document, and protect the patient. For psychiatry, risk assessment, capacity, legislation, rapport, and multidisciplinary planning are usually central. Keep the answer humane, structured, and legally aware.
- Identify the ethical tension before jumping to a decision: capacity, consent, confidentiality, best interests, or law.
- Use local policy and senior advice, and be explicit about safeguarding or immediate patient-safety concerns.
- Balance respect for autonomy with professional duties, documentation, and clear communication.
How to structure your answer
For a ethics prompt, aim for a short opening sentence, then two or three evidence-led points, then a final reflection. If you use STAR, keep the result and reflection as strong as the situation. If it is a clinical scenario, say what you would do now, what you would do next, and how you would keep the patient safe while help is coming.
- Open by naming the main issue in the question.
- Give a structured response rather than a memorised script.
- End with escalation, documentation, learning, or follow-up.
Common mistakes to avoid
The weakest answers usually stay too vague, ignore the specific role, or miss the safety issue hidden in the question. Do not use this page to memorise a perfect paragraph. Use it to rehearse the shape of a safe answer, then adapt it to your own experience and the post you are applying for.
- Section 136 allows police to remove a person who appears to be suffering from a mental disorder from a public place to a place of safety
- Since the Policing and Crime Act 2017, police cells can no longer be used as a place of safety for under-18s and should only be used for adults in exceptional circumstances
- Section 136 lasts up to 24 hours, extendable by a further 12 hours (to 36 hours total) in exceptional circumstances (e.g., patient is medically unfit for assessment)