16Secretary may authorize medical practitioner to act as principal medical officer or medical officer

16 Secretary may authorize medical practitioner to act as principal medical officer or medical officer S. 16(1) amended by Nos 23/1994 s. 118(Sch. 1 item 14.2), 45/1996 s. 17(Sch. 1 item 16), 97/2005 s. 182(Sch. 4 item 13.1), 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 16.3), substituted by No. 10/2013 s. 9(2). (1) If there is no principal medical officer or medical officer appointed for a prison or the principal medical officer or medical officer for the prison is absent, the Secretary may by instrument authorize a registered medical practitioner to act as principal medical officer or medical officer (as the case may be) for that prison while the relevant position is vacant or until the return of the relevant officer. S. 16(2) amended by Nos 45/1996 s. 17(Sch. 1 item 16), 46/1998 s. 7(Sch. 1), 29/2010 s. 52(2). (2) Before authorizing a person to act as medical officer the Secretary must consult with the Secretary to the Department of Health. (3) An authority under subsection (1) may be given subject to such conditions and limitations as are stated in the authority. S. 16(4) substituted by No. 10/2013 s. 9(3). (4) This Act applies to a person authorized to act as principal medical officer or as medical officer as if the person were a principal medical officer or medical officer (as the case may be). S. 17 substituted by No. 94/1994 s. 19.