[Section 57 Subsection (2) substituted by No. 4 of 2023, s. 76, Applied:25 Sep 2023]
(a) the patient must be clinically observed by a member of the approved hospital's nursing staff at intervals not exceeding –
(i) 15 minutes; or
(ii) such other intervals as the standing orders may mandate; and
(b) the restraint must not be applied for a period exceeding 3 hours unless –
(i) the patient has been assessed by a medical practitioner within those 3 hours; and
(ii) after conducting a physical examination of the patient, a medical practitioner or approved nurse authorises the continuation of the restraint for one specified period not exceeding 3 hours; and
(c) the patient must be assessed by a medical practitioner at intervals not exceeding 3 hours to see if the restraint should continue or be terminated; and
(d) the Chief Psychiatrist may impose conditions on the restraint of the patient at any point during the period of restraint for the patient; and
(e) while restrained, the patient must be provided with –
(i) suitable clean clothing and bedding; and
(ii) adequate sustenance; and
(iii) adequate toilet and sanitary arrangements; and
(iv) adequate ventilation and light; and
(v) a means of summoning aid; and
(f) the administration of any prescribed medications to the patient must not be unreasonably denied or delayed; and
(g) the patient must not be deprived of –
(i) physical aids, except as may be strictly necessary for the patient's safety or the preservation of those physical aids for the patient's future use; and
(ii) communication aids that the patient uses in communicating on a daily basis, except as may be strictly necessary for the patient's safety or the preservation of the communication aids for the patient's future use; and
(h) regardless of authorisation, the restraint –
(i) if the restraint is a chemical restraint, must not be administered with the intention that the patient be restrained by the chemical restraint for more than 6 hours; and
(ii) if the restraint is not a chemical restraint, must not exceed 6 hours; and
(iii) must not be maintained to the obvious detriment of the patient's mental or physical health.
(3) Nothing in this section is to be taken as conferring any kind of authority for a patient to be placed under restraint as a means of punishment or for reasons of administrative or staff convenience.