Cap. 525 Art. 7Voluntary admission to mental health licensed facility.

(1) A person shall be admitted voluntarily to a licensed facility when he needs inpatient treatment and is willing to receive it.

(2) Without prejudice to any other rights under this Act, a voluntary patient:

(a) shall not be admitted unless he consents in writing to the required care and treatment;

(b) shall not be secluded unless he consents in writing;

(c) can discharge himself at any time unless the criteria for involuntary admission are met;

(d) shall be informed on admission that medical personnel may exercise the authority to prevent his discharge should he meet involuntary admission criteria, unless the responsible specialist decides that it is not in the interest of the patient to be informed of such authority in which case such information shall be passed to the responsible carer;

(e) shall have a multidisciplinary care plan formulated in consultation with the patient and, or the responsible carer and finalised within 168 hours of admission; and

(f) shall give written informed consent prior to any significant changes in the care plan:

Provided that in cases where a patient lacks mental capacity or is legally prevented from giving consent to treatment, the responsible carer shall give such consent: Provided further that if the responsible carer cannot be identified, traced or otherwise refuses to give his consent, emergency treatment can be given to prevent physical harm to self review by a medical practitioner if it is perceived that there are grounds for involuntary admission.