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A.
Section 3 of this Ordinance repeals section 7 of the prin-
cipal Ordinance and substitutes a new section therefor. The
section in question deals with the procedure for removal of a
person to an asylum for temporary detention and observation.
The principal features of the new section 7 are that it ?
quires both the application, and the order of the magistrate
or justice of the peace, to be in a statutory form, and that
it lays down that, except in case of necessity, no order shall
be made until an attempt has been made to communicate with
some relative of the patient. The insistence on the use of
definite statutory forms will undoubtedly tend to greater
strictness and particularity. A draft of the proposed forms
is attached. The opportunity was taken to make it clear that
the seven days detention for the purpose of observation shall
date from and including the date of the order.
5.
Section 4 of this Ordinance also deals with the same point
of the exact duration of the period of detention for observa-
tion, and it amends section 8 of the principal Ordinance on
this point.
6.
Section 5 of this Ordinance makes two technical amendments
in section 9 of the principal Ordinance. These amendments
are necessary because the forms will in future be prescribed
by Order in Council.
Section 6 repeals section 10 of the principal Ordinance
and substitutes a new section which allows two extensions of
7 days each in addition to the initial period of 7 days 18-
tention for observation. The Government has been advised
that a period of 14 days may not be enough in some cases, but
that the whole period of detention for observation should not
exceed 21 days in all.
8.
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