Alberta has made changes to the Mental Health Act that were recommended three years ago following an inquiry into a standoff that led to the death of an RCMP officer in 2004.

One of the amendments, proclaimed into law Wednesday, broadens the criteria under which a patient can be involuntarily admitted to hospital. Previously, involuntary admissions could only occur when the patient presented "a danger to self or others."

The amendment widens that requirement to including patients seen to "suffer substantial mental or physical deterioration or serious physical impairment."

"We can step in earlier, get them turned around and back into the community quicker," said Dr. Michael Trew, senior medical director for addictions and mental health for Alberta, adding the changes have been in the works for year, and put the law in step with those in other provinces.

The changes were recommended by provincial court Judge Peter Ayotte, who led an inquiry into a February 2004 incident in Martin Ostopovich, a 41-year-old diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, shot and killed RCMP Cpl. James Galloway, 55, in Spruce Grove, west of Edmonton. RCMP officers then shot and killed Ostopovich.

Ostopovich, who had a history of mental illness, had been committed to a hospital psychiatric ward but discharged himself before his treatment was completed, even though the psychiatrist who treated him felt he was still a risk. The law wouldn't allow her to keep him in treatment against his will.

In his recommendations, Ayotte said changes needed to be made to the Mental Health Act to allow psychiatrists to keep patients in hospital for 30 days even if their initial symptoms have disappeared.

He also recommended the province introduce community treatment orders, which would force patients to continue treatment in the community.

The province intends to introduce community treatment orders in early 2010.

Closing of acute care beds highlights issue

Colin Simpson, regional director of the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta in Edmonton, said he was "thrilled" with changes that will allow families to intervene when they see people with mental illnesses start to deteriorate.

However, he called Wednesday's announcement a "mixed blessing" in light of the province's recent announcement that it will be closing 246 psychiatric acute care beds at Alberta Hospital and moving patients into community care options.

"We're still very worried that even if a person is involuntarily committed, where will they go?" he said. "When those beds go, we're really not sure that they're not going to be available so they would make the changes in the legislation somewhat moot."

Changes in legislation needs to be backed up with beds and facilities people need to recover, Simpson said.

But Trew said the acute care beds will be there for the people who need them.

"We anticipate those acute care beds will be shifted to some of the other community hospitals within Edmonton so the net number of beds that are available for this kind of acute care will not actually drop," he said.