<unk> , civil<unk> ,<unk>  hospitalization or<unk>  hospitalisation (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), (also known informally as sectioning or being sectioned in some jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom) is a legal process through which an individual who is deemed by a qualified agent to have symptoms of severe mental disorder is detained in a psychiatric hospital (inpatient) where they can be treated<unk> ly. This treatment may involve the administration of psychoactive drugs, including<unk>  administration. In many jurisdictions, people diagnosed with mental health disorders can also be forced to undergo treatment while in the community; this is sometimes referred to as outpatient<unk>  and shares legal processes with<unk> . Criteria for civil<unk>  are established by laws which vary between nations.<unk>  proceedings often follow a period of emergency hospitalization, during which an individual with acute psychiatric symptoms is confined for a relatively short duration (e.g. 72 hours) in a treatment facility for evaluation and stabilization by mental health professionals who may then determine whether further civil<unk>  is appropriate or necessary. Civil<unk>  procedures may take place in a court or only involve physicians. If<unk>  does not involve a court there is normally an appeal process that does involve the judiciary in some capacity, though potentially through a specialist court. Historically, until the mid-1960s in most jurisdictions in the United States, all committals to public psychiatric facilities and most committals to private ones were<unk> . Since then, there have been alternating trends towards the abolition or substantial reduction of<unk> , a trend known as deinstitutionalisation. In many currents, individuals can voluntarily admit themselves to a mental health hospital and may have more rights than those who are<unk> ly committed. This practice is referred to as voluntary<unk> . In the United States, an indefinite form of<unk>  is applied to people convicted of some sexual offences.
Involuntary commitment
Voluntary commitment
Casualty 
Respect for persons
Self-advocacy
Cultural humility
Informed consent
Informed refusal