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should be replaced by a person whom he reasonably believes to be suffering from mental disorder.
Once taken to a hospital, the person should receive adequate medical care. The Administration has agreed in principle that the patients should be seen by psychiatric doctors where necessary. Owing to the shortage of manpower, suitable
four arrangements will be made in years' time. The group has urged
the Administration that in the interim, these persons should be seen by doctors with at least three years' experience. The
Administration has also agreed that patients will be informed of their rights to be examined by a doctor of their own choice.
The group has sought the introduction of further safeguards particularly with regards to the detention of
cap patients. The bill provides for applications for the detention of
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patients to be made by a registered medical practitioner who has
examined the patient within the previous 14 days. An amendment
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will be sought at the) Committee Stage to reduce this todays.
The bill provides for such applications to be made to a le pistrict judge, magistrate or justice of the peace.
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The group has received representations from the Bar Association, suggesting mandatory hearing by a judge or magistrate before a decision is made. Recognising that detentions in a mental hospital will have
significant repercussion on a person's life, the group has proposed a compromise, that rather than making a hearing mandatory in every case, such persons should be given the right to be heard by a magistrate or judge, and should be informed of such right and be given the opportunity to exercise it if they so
wish. The group also feels that a magistrate or judge will be
S better qualified to authorize the detention particularly where hearings are involved. An amendment will be moved at Committee
in
Stage to delete the reference to justice of the peacé under these
provisions.