Assessing capacity for admission into involuntary care for people who use drugs: An ethical analysis in British Columbia

In 2025, the BC government began expanding involuntary treatment for people who use drugs. Although involuntary treatment has long existed under the BC Mental Health Act, there is no formal research that reports on how physicians decide patients need involuntary treatment and there is limited guidance given to physicians on performing these assessments.
Objective: There are 3 aims: 1) To describe policy and guidelines for physicians on determining if patients need involuntary treatment; 2) Examine how physicians interpret and implement these guidelines; and 3) Provide recommendations for improving these processes.
Methods: For aim 1, we will review all policies relevant to admitting patients for involuntary care. For aim 2, we will interview ~20 physicians to see how they determine which patients need to be involuntarily admitted when presenting with signs of addiction. For aim 3, we will use results to generate recommendations to guide future assessments.
Knowledge Mobilization (KM) will include publications, presentations, and educational resources for practitioners. In providing this in-depth examination, we will generate critical evidence and resources to guide practice and policy that supports patient autonomy.