In this ‘in conversation’ with Colleen Simon and John Mitchell, we talk about a recently published discussion paper about the ways in which Approved Mental Health Professionals (‘AMHPs’) undertake their statutory role of ‘considering’ patient’s cases under s.13 MHA 1983, and why it is dangerous to think of an ‘MHA assessment’ as a single event. We also think about what could be done differently even in advance of any law reforms that might take place in this area.