XN000022-1986-06-26 — Page 17

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1986

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IF A PATIENT OR HIS RELATIVE DOES NOT EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO APPLY TO THE TRIBUNAL WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE TIME WHEN THE RIGHT FIRST BECOMES AVAILABLE, THE MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT MUST REFER THE PATIENT'S CASE TO THE TRIBUNAL.

THE BILL PROPOSES THAT THE TRIBUNAL SHOULD HAVE THE SAME POWERS AS A MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT IN RESPECT OF NON-OFFENDER PATIENTS, AND MAY THUS DISCHARGE A PATIENT ABSOLUTELY OR DISCHARGE HIM ON TRIAL OR SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, IN THE CASE OF OFFENDER PATIENTS, THE TRIBUNAL CAN ONLY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR AS TO THE EXERCISE OF HIS POWERS UNDER THE MAIN ORDINANCE.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE NEW BILL PROPOSES A REVISION IN THE ADMISSION PROCEDURES. IT WILL ENABLE THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, A DOCTOR OR A RELATIVE, WHO HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT A PERSON IS MENTALLY DISORDERED, MAY APPLY TO A DOCTOR IN THE FULL EMPLOYMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT, AN APPROVED SUBVENTED ORGANISATION OR THE UNIVERSITIES FOR AN ORDER AUTHORISING THE DETENTION OF THAT PERSON IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL FOR A MAXIMUM OF SEVEN DAYS.

IN MAKING AN APPLICATION FOR DETENTION ORDER, THE BILL IMPOSES A DUTY ON THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE OR THE DOCTOR TO TAKE ALL PRACTICAL STEPS TO INFORM A RELATIVE OF THE PERSON WHOM IT IS PROPOSED TO REMOVE TO A MENTAL HOSPITAL, THAT THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN MADE.

AT ITS MEETING TODAY, THE MDAC ALSO DECIDED TO SET UP A SUB-COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE REQUIREMENT AND SUPPLY OF DENTISTS AND PARA-DENTAL PERSONNEL IN HONG KONG.

THE DUTIES OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

(A) TO REVIEW THE REQUIREMENT FOR DENTISTS, HAVING

REGARD TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO GENERAL PUBLIC DENTAL SERVICE AND

(B) IN THE LIGHT OF (A) TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE FUTURE SUPPLY OF DENTISTS IN HONG KONG.

THE SUB-COMMITTEE IS TO BE CHAIRED BY PROFESSOR W.I.R. DAVIES, DE AN OF THE DENTAL FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG. MEMBERS WILL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DENTAL FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY AND THE HONG KONG DENTAL ASSOCIATION, THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH AND THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THE MDAC HAD LAST REVIEWED THE REQUIREMENT AND SUPPLY OF DENTISTS IN 1979, AND THIS REVIEW COVERED THE PLANNING DECADE ENDING IN 1988.

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