29Discharge of voluntary patients

29 Discharge of voluntary patients (1) Subject to section 30, a person admitted as a voluntary patient in an approved treatment facility may discharge himself or herself from the facility at any time. Sections 89 and 90 provide for appropriate information and arrangements relating to follow-up care to be given to persons being discharged. (2) A person must be informed of his or her right to leave the approved treatment facility on being admitted as a voluntary patient. (3) An authorised psychiatric practitioner must discharge a person admitted as a voluntary patient if of the opinion that: (a) it is in the person's best interest to do so; or (b) the person will not obtain any benefit by prolonging his or her admission. (4) A person who is discharged under subsection (3) must leave the approved treatment facility as soon as practicable after being informed of his or her discharge. (5) If the person is admitted under section 27, the authorised psychiatric practitioner must, as soon as practicable after the person is discharged, inform the person's adult guardian or decision maker about the discharge.

Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998 27