Mental Health Act 2009 (SA)

South Australia Mental Health Act 2009 An Act to make provision for the treatment, care and rehabilitation of persons with severe mental illness with the goal of bringing about their recovery as far as is possible; to confer powers to make orders for community treatment, or inpatient treatment, of such persons where required; to provide protections of the freedom and legal rights of persons with mental illness; and for other purposes.

Contents Part 1—Preliminary 1 Short title 3 Interpretation 4 Application of Act 5 Medical examinations by audio‑visual conferencing 5A Decision‑making capacity Part 2—Objects and guiding principles 6 Objects 7 Guiding principles Part 3—Voluntary inpatients 8 Voluntary inpatients 9 Voluntary inpatients to be given statement of rights Part 4—Orders for treatment of persons with mental illness Division 1—Level 1 community treatment orders 10 Level 1 community treatment orders 11 Chief Psychiatrist to be notified of level 1 orders or their variation or revocation 12 Copies of level 1 orders, notices and statements of rights to be given to patients etc 13 Treatment of patients to whom level 1 orders apply 14 Chief Psychiatrist to ensure monitoring of compliance with level 1 orders Division 2—Level 2 community treatment orders 16 Level 2 community treatment orders 17 Chief Psychiatrist to be notified of level 2 orders or their variation or revocation 18 Treatment of patients to whom level 2 orders apply 19 Chief Psychiatrist to ensure monitoring of compliance with level 2 orders Part 5—Orders for treatment as inpatient of persons with mental illness Division 1—Non‑compliance with community treatment orders and making of inpatient treatment orders 20 Non-compliance with community treatment orders and making of inpatient treatment orders Division 2—Level 1 inpatient treatment orders 21 Level 1 inpatient treatment orders 22 Chief Psychiatrist to be notified of level 1 orders or their revocation 23 Copies of level 1 orders, notices and statements of rights to be given to patients etc 24 Treatment of patients to whom level 1 orders apply Division 3—Level 2 inpatient treatment orders 25 Level 2 inpatient treatment orders 26 Notices and reports relating to level 2 orders 27 Copies of level 2 orders, notices and statements of rights to be given to patients etc 28 Treatment of patients to whom level 2 orders apply Division 4—Level 3 inpatient treatment orders 29 Level 3 inpatient treatment orders 30 Chief Psychiatrist to be notified of level 3 orders or their variation or revocation 31 Treatment of patients to whom level 3 orders apply Division 5—General 32 Inpatient treatment orders displace community treatment orders 33 Duty of director of treatment centre to comply with inpatient treatment orders 34 Involuntary inpatients not permitted to leave treatment centre or care and control of staff 34A Confinement and other powers relating to involuntary inpatients 35 Transfer of involuntary inpatients 36 Leave of absence of involuntary patients 37 Persons granted leave of absence to be given statement of rights 38 Cancellation of leave of absence Part 6—Treatment and care plans 39 Treatment and care plans for voluntary patients 40 Treatment and care plans for patients to whom community treatment orders apply 41 Treatment and care plans for patients to whom inpatient treatment orders apply Part 7—Regulation of prescribed psychiatric treatments Division A1—Prescribed Psychiatric Treatment Panel 41A Prescribed Psychiatric Treatment Panel 41B Conditions of appointment to Panel 41C Functions of Panel 41D Constitution and proceedings of Panel Division 1—ECT 42 ECT Division 2—Neurosurgery for mental illness 43 Neurosurgery for mental illness Division 3—Other prescribed psychiatric treatments 44 Other prescribed psychiatric treatments Part 8—Further protections for persons with mental illness Division 1—Patients' rights and protections 45 Assistance of interpreters 46 Copies of Tribunal's orders, decisions and statements of rights to be given 47 Patients' right to be supported by guardian etc 48 Patients' right to communicate with others outside treatment centre 48A Prohibition on use of spit hoods 49 Neglect or ill-treatment Division 2—Community visitor scheme 50 Community visitors 51 Community visitors' functions and powers 51A Delegation by Principal Community Visitor 52 Visits to and inspections of treatment centres 52A Visits to and inspection of authorised community mental health facilities 52B Visits and inspections by audiovisual or other electronic means 53 Requests to see community visitors 54 Reports by Principal Community Visitor Part 9—Powers relating to persons who have or appear to have mental illness 54A Issuing of patient assistance requests 55 Issuing of patient transport requests 56 Powers of authorised officers relating to persons who have or appear to have mental illness 57 Powers of police officers relating to persons who have or appear to have mental illness 58 Officers may assist each other 58A Officers to keep records about exercise of powers under Act 59 Roles of various officers 60 Offence to hinder etc officer Part 10—Arrangements between South Australia and other jurisdictions Division 1—Preliminary 61 Interpretation 62 Ministerial agreements 63 Requests or approvals relating to actions involving other jurisdictions 64 Powers of South Australian officers 65 Regulations may modify operation of Part Division 2—Community treatment orders 66 South Australian community treatment orders and treatment in other jurisdictions 67 Powers of interstate officers 68 Interstate community treatment orders and treatment in South Australia 69 Making of South Australian community treatment orders when interstate orders apply Division 3—Transfer to or from South Australian treatment centres 70 Transfer from South Australian treatment centres 71 Transfer to South Australian treatment centres 72 Patient transport requests 73 Powers when patient transport request issued Division 4—Transport to other jurisdictions 74 Transport to other jurisdictions when South Australian inpatient treatment orders apply 75 Transport to other jurisdictions of persons with apparent mental illness 76 Transport to other jurisdictions when interstate inpatient treatment orders apply Division 5—Transport to South Australia 77 Transport to South Australia when South Australian inpatient treatment orders apply 78 Transport to South Australia of persons with apparent mental illness Part 11—Reviews and appeals 79 Reviews of treatment orders and other matters 80 Decisions and reports on reviews of treatment orders 81 Reviews of orders (other than Tribunal orders) 83 Review of directions for transfer of patients to interstate treatment centres 83A Reviews and appeals 84 Representation on reviews or appeals Part 11A—Special provisions relating to Tribunal 85 Tribunal must give notice of proceedings 85A Reasons for decisions 85B Representation of person who is subject of proceedings Part 12—Administration Division 1—Minister and Chief Executive 86 Minister's functions 87 Delegation by Minister 88 Delegation by Chief Executive Division 2—Chief Psychiatrist 89 Chief Psychiatrist 90 Chief Psychiatrist's functions 91 Delegation by Chief Psychiatrist 92 Annual report of Chief Psychiatrist Division 3—Authorised medical practitioners 93 Authorised medical practitioners Division 4—Authorised mental health professionals 94 Authorised mental health professionals 95 Code of practice for authorised mental health professionals Division 5—Treatment centres 96 Approved treatment centres 97 Limited treatment centres 97A Authorised community mental health facilities 100 Delegation by directors of treatment centres Part 13—Miscellaneous 101 Errors in orders etc 102 Offences relating to authorisations and orders 103 Medical practitioners or health professionals not to act in respect of relatives 104 Removing inpatients from treatment centres 106 Confidentiality and disclosure of information 107 Prohibition of publication of reports of proceedings 108 Requirements for notice to Tribunal or Chief Psychiatrist 109 Evidentiary provision 110 Regulations 111 Review of Act Schedule 1—Certain conduct may not indicate mental illness Schedule 2—Transitional provisions 2 Transitional provisions Legislative history