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Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

Procedure for initiating short-term detention

82.Section 44 sets out the procedure for granting a short-term detention certificate. The detention is initiated by an approved medical practitioner who has examined the patient, determined that the criteria for short-term detention are met and obtained the consent of a mental health officer. The approved medical practitioner should also, unless it is impracticable, have regard to any views expressed by the patient’s named person (see Chapter 1 of Part 17) concerning the proposed detention. Any approved medical practitioner may issue a short-term detention certificate provided that there is no conflict of interest in relation to the medical examination.

83.Section 44(2) also provides that a patient may not be re-detained on a short-term detention certificate immediately upon the expiry of an earlier period of detention authorised by:

  • a short-term detention certificate;

  • an extension certificate;

  • section 68;

  • a certificate granted under section 114(2) or 115(2).

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Text created by the Scottish Government to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Acts of the Scottish Parliament except those which result from Budget Bills.

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