375Hearings to be closed to the public

375 Hearings to be closed to the public

(1) Subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4), hearings of the Mental Health Tribunal are closed to members of the public.

(2) The Mental Health Tribunal may order that a hearing or any part of a hearing be open to members of the public if the Tribunal is satisfied that it is in the public interest.

(3) A person who is the subject of a proceeding under this Act may make a written request to the Mental Health Tribunal for the hearing, or any part of the hearing, to be heard in public.

(4) In determining a request made under subsection (3), the Mental Health Tribunal must consider whether holding the hearing, or part of the hearing, in public would—

(a) be a serious threat to the health and safety of any person; or

(b) prejudice the interests of justice.