60Leave of absence from approved hospital

60 Leave of absence from approved hospital

(1)  An approved medical practitioner may grant an involuntary patient leave of absence from an approved hospital (leave).

(2)  [Section 60 Subsection (2) amended by No. 59 of 2016, s. 34, Applied:01 Jul 2017] The leave may be granted for clinical or personal reasons.

(3)  [Section 60 Subsection (3) substituted by No. 4 of 2023, s. 79, Applied:25 Sep 2023] Leave for personal reasons may be granted to a patient –

(a) at the request of the patient; or

(b) at the request of a person who, in the opinion of the approved medical practitioner, has a genuine interest in the patient's welfare.

(3A)  [Section 60 Subsection (3A) inserted by No. 59 of 2016, s. 34, Applied:01 Jul 2017] Leave must not be granted for a continuous period of more than 14 days.

(4)  The patient may ask any staff member of the approved hospital for help in making the request and the staff member is to –

(a) render that help to the best of his or her ability; or

(b) arrange for another staff member of the approved hospital to render that help.

(5)  The leave is to be granted by means of an instrument in writing (the leave pass).

(6)  The leave may be granted on such conditions as the approved medical practitioner considers necessary or desirable for the patient's health or safety or the safety of other persons.

(7)  Without limiting the generality of subsection (6) , the patient may be required to be under escort during the leave or any portion thereof (in which case the custody and escort provisions apply).

(8)  The approved medical practitioner is to ensure that the conditions are specified in the leave pass.