Hello, EMT here. There’s a difference between being involuntarily committed and voluntarily. Typically what will happen is that someone, either the patient themselves or close friend, family member, etc, will call with concern about the patient’s mental health. This can be suicidal thoughts, aggressive behavior, etc. Police and myself get called, police make sure that the person is not an immediate danger to others so that I can come in. I’ll come in, find out what’s going on and the backstory. Usually, the patient says, yes, I’ve been having some mental health issues, I want to go to the hospital. They ride in the back and everything is cool.

That is voluntary admission. The patient does so of their own free will.

Involuntary admission is when the patient presents and imminent danger to themselves or others as determined by myself and/or PD and they are refusing treatment or at least transport and evaluation by the hospital psychologist. Because they are a danger, they are involuntary brought in by PD and treatment proceeds from there.

Whether that distinction is made in the law, I do not know, but there is a difference between the two