COVID-19 in forensic psychiatric hospitals in Bavaria: Finding a balance between infection prevention, collective security and patient rights

The corona pandemic represents an enormous challenge for the entire health care system in Germany. Besides treating patients and protecting the general population, forensic psychiatric hospitals are now required to adhere to pandemic guidelines. The various levels of freedom of the patients must thereby be observed and may not be restricted, but at the same time closed facilities must do their best to avoid a COVID-19 outbreak. For this reason, the supervisory authority of the federal state of Bavaria, together with the heads of the forensic psychiatric hospitals, has developed recommendations for action that have significantly facilitated the implementation of the pandemic guidelines and that can serve as an example for other federal states, even across state borders.