Psychiatric patients have been, and continue to be, victims of social rejection, a phenomenon that has led to their de facto marginalization. The historical evolution of Western society has been characterized by a tendency to move from laws that preferentially protect society from a perceived threat from individuals with mental illness towards laws intended to protect and defend the interests of these individuals. The spirit of the current legislative framework is to protect persons with mental illness and to guarantee the protection of each and every one of their rights. However, it should be recognized that promulgation of a new law is not tantamount to its enforcement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual legal status of persons admitted to psychiatric hospitals.