Western Australian Current Acts Western Australian Current Acts (1) The person in
charge of the voluntary inpatient’s ward may make an order for an
assessment of the voluntary inpatient by a medical practitioner or authorised
mental health practitioner at the authorised hospital if —
(a) the
voluntary inpatient wants to leave the authorised hospital against medical
advice; and
(b)
having regard to the criteria specified in section 25, the person in charge
reasonably suspects that the voluntary inpatient is in need of an involuntary
treatment order.
(2) The order must be
in the approved form and must include the following —
(a) the
date and time when it is made;
(b) the
reasons for making it;
(c) the
name, qualifications and signature of the person in charge.
(3) The voluntary
inpatient can be detained under the order at the authorised hospital for up to
6 hours from the time when the order was made to enable the assessment to be
conducted.
(4) The person in
charge of the voluntary inpatient’s ward must, as soon as practicable,
file the order and give a copy to the voluntary patient.
(5) The person in
charge of the voluntary inpatient’s ward must ensure that the inpatient
has the opportunity and the means to contact any carer, close family member or
other personal support person of the inpatient, a health professional who is
currently providing the inpatient with treatment and the Chief Mental Health
Advocate —
(a) as
soon as practicable after the order is made; and
(b) at
all reasonable times while the voluntary inpatient is detained under the
order.
(6) Subdivision 4
applies in relation to an assessment ordered under subsection (1).
(7) The voluntary
inpatient cannot continue to be detained if, by the end of the 6-hour period
referred to in subsection (3) —
(a) the
assessment has not been completed; or
(b) the
assessment has been completed but a referral has not been made under
section 36(2) in respect of the voluntary inpatient.