batsgirl: "But if it were to happen, if I was unable to make the decisions that were best for my welfare, then even once I was on a secure ward I wouldn't think I was being *punished* for anything." Well, you'd be amongst the fortunate few who have that degree of insight. Tom: "But in this case 'trick' was meant in the 'tricks of the trade' sense, rather than the 'I'll trick her into doing something'. " Oh, I know - I did realise that. I guess I'm uncomfortable with this being thought of as a trick of the trade, even. As I said before, I do totally understand your position. I think maybe it was just the way your post was phrased - could reinforce the antipathy that a lot of people feel towards the mental health system. I also think it would be important to point out, in this situation, that what you would be doing would be to have some people ASSESS her for a section, rather than you're going to "get people to come and have her sectioned". Telling her she might be handcuffed and dragged kicking and screaming also sounds like a threat to me. Maybe you didn't actually say that to the patient, but the fact that you wrote it may indicate, to some, that you consider the MHA something of a weapon for disobedient patients. I guess I'm probably oversensitive because I spend my life defending psychiatry and the MHA to people who think we're a bunch of paternalistic, control-freak bastards, and I don't want anyone to inadvertently reinforce that view. Tom, no offence meant. I like your blog a lot.