The authors provide a critical analysis of the clinical, administrative and logistic consequences of the newly-promulgated commitment law of July 5th, 2011. While the judge's role in overseeing the restrictions of personal freedom of the committed mentally ill is legitimate, the implementation of the law poses serious problems: practical, medicolegal and psychological issues regarding confidentiality; the display of patient in front of the public and the judiciary; and disruption of the therapeutic alliance with the treatment team. Furthermore, the additional workload on medical and administrative staff, as well as the economic cost of this new law, impact negatively on the quality of patient care.