Queensland Consolidated Acts

MENTAL HEALTH ACT 2016 - SECT 32

32 Powers of doctor or authorised mental health practitioner

(1) This section applies if a person is subject to an examination authority.

(2) A doctor or authorised mental health practitioner may—

(a) enter a place stated in the authority or another place in which the doctor or authorised mental health practitioner considers the person may be found, and any other place necessary for entry to either of those places, to find the person; and

(b) examine the person, without the person’s consent, at—

(i) the place at which the person is found; or

(ii) if the doctor or authorised mental health practitioner considers it clinically appropriate—an authorised mental health service or public sector health service facility; and

(c) detain the person at the place at which the person is examined—

(i) if the place is an authorised mental health service or public sector health service facility—for a period, of not more than 6 hours, starting when the person first attends at the service or facility for the examination; or

(ii) otherwise—for a period, of not more than 1 hour, starting when the person is found at the place.

(3) If subsection (2) (b) (ii) applies to the person, an authorised person may transport the person to the authorised mental health service or public sector health service facility for the examination.

(4) The doctor or authorised mental health practitioner examining the person may extend, or further extend, the period under subsection (2) (c) (i) before it ends if the doctor or authorised mental health practitioner considers the extension is necessary to carry out or finish the examination.

(5) An extension under subsection (4) may be for a period, of not more than 12 hours, starting when the person first attends at the service or facility for the examination.