It is essential that the rights of patients detained under the Mental Health Act continue to be met during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, during this period of social distancing the processes surrounding Mental Health Tribunals have had to be adjusted in order to keep all parties safe. In this podcast, Chief Medical Member Dr Joan Rutherford outlines the emergency measures that have been put in place, and provides guidance on how clinicians can continue to treat detained patients fairly and respectfully during this time.