PART I

Solemn Procedure

Procedure prior to Trial

Procedure at trial of persons suffering from mental disorder

Power of court to restrict discharge from hospital
178
1
Where a hospital order is made in respect of a person, and it appears to the court, having regard to the nature of the offence with which he is charged, the antecedents of the person and the risk that as a result of his mental disorder he would commit offences if set at large, that it is necessary for the protection of the public so to do, the court may, subject to the provisions of this section, further order that the person shall be subject to the special restrictions set out in section 60(3) of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960, either without limit of time or during such period as may be specified in the order.
2
An order under this section (in this Act referred to as " an order restricting discharge ") shall not be made in the case of any person unless the medical practitioner approved by the Health Board for the purposes of section 27 of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960, whose evidence is taken into account by the court under section 175(1)(a) of this Act, has given evidence orally before the court.
3
Where an order restricting the discharge of a patient is in force, a guardianship order shall not be made in respect of him; and where the hospital order relating to him ceases to have effect by virtue of section 58(4) of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960 on the making of another hospital order, that order shall have the same effect in relation to the order restricting discharge as the previous hospital order, but without prejudice to the power of the court making that other hospital order to make another order restricting discharge to have effect on the expiration of the previous such order.
1960 c. 61.