A patient, who has been charged with assault with intent to ...

[jeatrice]

A patient, who has been charged with assault with intent to commit murder, has been hallucinating. Which question when answered correctly by the patient would show com-petency to stand trial for the crime?
 
  a. Can you describe your hallucinations?
  b. Were you ever sexually abused as a child?
  c. Can you describe for me the charges against you?
  d. Can you explain why you wanted to assault your brother?

Question 2

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is hospitalized under an emergency commitment. Which nursing explanation is most effective when the patient asks, Why am I being kept here?
 
  a. The court believed you needed mental health care.
  b. Your mental condition became unstable and you relapsed.
  c. You couldn't stop doing things that could likely have hurt you.
  d. I'd suggest that you exercise your patient right to speak to a lawyer.

[amit]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Competency to stand trial is a narrow concept based on the person's awareness of the legal process and the understanding of the criminal charges. The remaining options are concerned with the individual's symptoms, past experience, and motives rather than his ability to under-stand the legal processes.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
When the effects of the patient's mental illness result in an immediate risk of self-harm
or harm to others, an emergency commitment is appropriate. While it is correct that such a commitment is court ordered and may be a result of a relapse, these options do not appropri-ately respond to the patient's question. The patient does have a right to a lawyer, but this op-tion fails to answer the patient's question as well.

[jeatrice]

Great answer, keep it coming

[Sarahjh]

Excellent