DRAFT SPEECH BY BON MRS ROSANNA TAM LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 22.6.88
Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 1987
Clauses 2, 4 and 7 moved by Hon Mrs Rosanna TAM
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Committee Stage
Clauses 2, 4 and 7 MRS. TAM:
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Sir,
I move that the clauses specified be amended as set out in the paper circulated to Members.
The amendment to hause 2 (b) deals with the concern that the mentally handicapped, who are without abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct, are labelled together with the mentally ill, who suffer from psychopathic disorder or other disorder or disability of mind. The deletion from the Bill of the term mental impairment which is defined as a state of mind which is associated with aggressive or irresponsible conduct will remove the unnecessary
misunderstanding.
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The amendment to
S
lause 4 recognizes
4 recognizes the need to protect the interest of patients who are liable to be committed to detention in a mental hospital. The action of applying for an order for the detention of a patient and of making the order itself involves important decisions affecting the freedom of individuals and which will have serious implications on their future lives. The Ad Hoc Group studying the Bill considers that the safeguards provided in the Bill do not go far enough and has proposed further restrictions. The present amendment will ensure that the application for an order for detention is founded on the opinion of a registered medical practitioner who has examined the
Seven patient within the previous days, rather than 14 days as in the
Bill.
(I)