(1)  A forensic patient may be given treatment ( urgent circumstances treatment ) without informed consent or Tribunal authorisation if an approved medical practitioner authorises the treatment as being urgently needed in respect of the patient.

(2)  The approved medical practitioner may, under subsection (1) , authorise treatment as being urgently needed only if the approved medical practitioner is of the opinion that achieving the necessary treatment outcome would be compromised by waiting for the urgent circumstances treatment to be authorised by the Tribunal (or by a member thereof on an interim basis).

(3)  The approved medical practitioner may give the authorisation if, and only if, as a result of an assessment of the patient, the practitioner is satisfied that –

(a) the patient has a mental illness that is generally in need of treatment; and

(b) the urgent circumstances treatment is necessary for –

(i) the patient's health or safety; or

(ii) the safety of other persons; and

(c) the urgent circumstances treatment is necessary in terms of the outcomes referred to in section 6(1) ; and

(d) achieving the necessary treatment outcome would be compromised by waiting for the urgent circumstances treatment to be authorised by the Tribunal (or by a member thereof on an interim basis).

(4)  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

(5)  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

(6)  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

(7)  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

(8)  If the authorisation is given, the approved medical practitioner has the following obligations:

(a) to ensure that the patient is advised of the authorisation as soon as possible after it is given;

(ab) to give a copy of the authorisation to the Chief Psychiatrist and the Tribunal;

(ac) to give a copy of the authorisation to the patient (together with a statement of rights in an approved form);

(b) to place a copy of the authorisation on the patient's clinical record.

(9)  If the authorisation is given, the patient may be given the urgent circumstances treatment until whichever of the following first occurs:

(a) the treatment is completed;

(b) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

(c) an approved medical practitioner, for any reason he or she considers sufficient, stops the urgent circumstances treatment;

(d) the 96-hour period immediately following the giving of the authorisation expires;

(da) the patient is discharged from the SMHU;

(e) the authorisation is set aside by the Tribunal.

Note

The authorisation of urgent circumstances treatment is reviewable by the Tribunal  –  see Division 2 of Part 3 of Chapter 3 .

(10)  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .