Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Mental Health Act 1986 - SECT 12C

Continued detention and treatment

12C. Continued detention and treatment



(1) If the committee gives its consent under section 12B(4)(a), the person
about whom the application was made is to continue to be detained and treated
in the approved mental health service for the period specified by the
committee.

(2) If-

   (a)  the committee refuses to give its consent; or

   (b)  the committee has not determined the application within 7 days after
        the day the application was made-

the authorised psychiatrist must discharge the person as an involuntary
patient.

(3) The continued detention and treatment of a person under this section may
be renewed for a further period not exceeding 3 months on an application made
and determined in accordance with sections 12A and 12B.

(4) There is no limit to the number of times the continued detention of a
person may be renewed under subsection (3).

(5) If the chief psychiatrist considers that the criteria specified in section
12A(2) no longer apply to a person whose detention has been continued under
this section, the chief psychiatrist must order that the person be discharged
as an involuntary patient.