Section 8
Admission of involuntary patient into psychiatric facility
(1)
An officer in charge or any officer authorised by him may admit into and detain in a psychiatric facility, as an involuntary patient, a person who is suspected to be suffering from a mental disorder upon —
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(a)
an application made by a relative or friend of that person to the officer in charge; and
(b)
a recommendation by a medical practitioner based on his examination of that person made not more than 5 days before the application that —
(i)
he is suffering from a mental disorder of a nature or degree which warrants his admission into a psychiatric facility for the purposes of assessment or treatment; or
(ii)
he ought to be detained in the interest of his health or safety or for the protection of other persons.
(2)
Where a patient is admitted into a psychiatric facility as an involuntary patient, the officer in charge shall, not more than 72 hours after the patient’s admission, cause such examination as he may consider necessary to be conducted by a designated medical practitioner in that psychiatric facility on the patient to determine whether or not his continued detention is justified.
(3)
The medical practitioner who makes the recommendation under subsection (1)(b) shall not examine the patient for the purposes of subsection (2).
(4)
Where upon an examination under subsection (2) the designated medical practitioner —
(a)
is not satisfied that his continued detention is justified, he shall discharge him; or
(b)
is satisfied that his continued detention is justified, he shall make an order for his detention for a further period not exceeding one month.