Health officials are reviewing the release of a mental health patient accused of stabbing a senior in the chest without provocation the day after being discharged from hospital.

Mohamed Amer, who is known to police across Canada for a list of violent and property-related crimes, was picked up by Vancouver police twice on Tuesday and delivered to St. Paul's Hospital for assessment.

In both cases the 30-year-old was released back into the public the same day. The following afternoon, Amer allegedly sat down next to a 71-year-old man in a coffee shop and – without uttering a word – plunged a knife into his torso.

He has been charged with attempted murder and obstructing a peace officer.

The Mental Health Act allows facilities to detain a patient involuntarily for up to 48 hours for examination and treatment provided they are examined by a physician who finds they suffer from a mental disorder.

The involuntary admission can continue past 48 hours if a second physician comes to the same conclusion.

Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care announced Friday they are assembling a panel, expected to include mental health experts and researchers, to review the circumstances leading to Amer's release.

It will also focus on the patient's care and stay at the hospital, including emergency department protocols and the admission process for St. Paul's mental health program.

"Because the public is aware of a particular incident, it's important for us to be able to get back to the public with what recommendations, if any, an expert panel might provide," Providence president Dianne Doyle said.

While details of Amer's case could not be shared, the patient was assessed for admission both times and deemed fit for release, Doyle said.

"Capacity was not an issue. There were beds available within St. Paul's Hospital and within the system."

The panel experts' names will be announced once they have been appointed.

Providence Health says the physicians and staff responsible for assessing incoming mental health patients have no access to criminal records, and their primary focus is patient care.

The stabbing occurred at around 3 p.m. Wednesday at Waves Coffee House on West Hastings Street. Responding officers allegedly found Amer sitting a table when they arrived.

Amer, who is also wanted on a warrant in Ottawa for breach of probation, appeared in court Friday, where witnesses say he repeatedly interrupted the judge and at one point made a gun gesture with his hand and pointed it at the courtroom.

He will be held in custody and assessed to determine if he's fit to stand trial. He is due back in court on March 21.

The stabbing victim, a well-known regular at the coffee shop, remains in hospital in critical, but stable condition.