ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In January 2020 the Compulsory Mental Healthcare Act (Dutch: Wvggz) was implemented. The Wvggz details the rights of patients with mental illness who require compulsory care. The law aims, amongst others, to improve the legal rights of patients and those close to them, for example by enabling the possibility to draw up their own action plan (AP) or care card. AIM: To explore what health care professionals think of the possibilities for involvement by patients and those close to them, enabled by the Wvggz. METHOD: A qualitative study in which health care professionals were interviewed about the possibilities for involvement by patients and those close to them. We used thematic analysis to study the data from the interviews. RESULTS: Health care professionals were positive about the idea to involve patients and those close to them, though they indicated that patients and those close to them were already involved before the law came into effect. The main difference was that their involvement was more documented, for instance patients can write their own AP or fill out a care card. Health care professionals mentioned that both the AP and the care card offer the possibility for patients and those close to them to express and realize their wishes. On the downside, not all patient groups were able to draw up their own plan of action. Furthermore, according to the health care professionals, both the action plan and care card could give patients the false impression that their wishes can always be acknowledged. CONCLUSION: Health care professionals mention that patients and those close to them were already involved before the law came into effect. However, the ways in which their involvement is arranged and documented are different.
