New Zealand Acts

MENTAL HEALTH (COMPULSORY ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT) ACT 1992 - SECT 31

31 Leave for inpatients

1 This section shall apply to every patient, other than a special patient, who is in a hospital in accordance with an inpatient order.

2 The responsible clinician may from time to time grant to any patient to whom this section applies leave of absence from the hospital for such period not exceeding 3 months, and on such terms and conditions, as that clinician thinks fit.

3 The responsible clinician may from time to time extend any such period of leave for a further period not exceeding 3 months at any one time; but no patient shall be on leave under this section for a continuous period of more than 6 months.

4 The responsible clinician may, at any time during the period of leave granted under this section to any patient, cancel the leave by notice in writing to the person who has undertaken to take care of the patient during the period of leave, or, if there is no such person, by notice in writing to the patient.

5 Where leave is cancelled, the patient may be taken to the hospital, or to any other hospital, by any duly authorised officer acting under the authority of the Director of Area Mental Health Services, or by any person to whom the charge of the patient has been entrusted during the period of leave.