s 16 Discharge of involuntary patient on application
(1) Subject to subsection (2), an involuntary patient or a relative of the patient may make an application in the prescribed form to the Medical Director requesting the patient’s discharge.
(2) On receipt of an application made under subsection (1), the Medical Director shall examine the patient in respect of whom the application is made and shall record his findings in a report.
(3) The Medical Director shall not discharge the patient unless he is satisfied, based on the examination under subsection (2), that the patient—
(a) is not mentally disordered; or
(b) though still mentally disordered, is not in need of further care or treatment in the psychiatric hospital and is not dangerous to himself or to other persons.
(4) A person aggrieved by the decision of the Medical Director under subsection (3) refusing to discharge him may appeal in writing to the Visitors within fourteen days from the date of receipt of such decision.
(5) When an appeal is made under subsection (4), the Medical Director shall submit the report of his examination under subsection
(2) to the Visitors.
(6) On receipt of an appeal made under subsection (4), the Visitors shall personally examine the person in respect of whom the appeal is made and record their findings in a report.
(7) The Visitors shall not discharge the patient unless they are satisfied, based on the examination under subsection (6) and the Medical Director’s report, that the patient—
(a) is not mentally disordered; or
(b) though still mentally disordered, is not in need of further care or treatment in the psychiatric hospital and is not dangerous to himself or to other persons.
(8) A person aggrieved by the decision of the Visitors under subsection (7) may appeal in writing to the Director General within fourteen days from the date of receipt of the Visitor’s refusal to grant his discharge.
(9) When an appeal is made under subsection (8), the Visitors shall submit the report of their examination under subsection (6) together with the report of the Medical Director to the Director General.
(10) If, having regard to the patient’s current mental condition and upon considering the report of the Medical Director and that of the Visitors, the Director General is not satisfied that the continued detention of the patient is necessary, he shall order that the patient be discharged.
Malay text (authoritative)
Pelepasan pesakit tidak sukarela atas permohonan
(1) Tertakluk kepada subseksyen (2), seseorang pesakit tidak sukarela atau seseorang saudara pesakit itu boleh membuat permohonan dalam borang yang ditetapkan kepada Pengarah Perubatan meminta pelepasan pesakit itu.
(2) Apabila menerima permohonan yang dibuat di bawah subseksyen (1), Pengarah Perubatan hendaklah memeriksa pesakit yang berkenaan dengannya permohonan itu telah dibuat dan hendaklah merekodkan dapatannya dalam suatu laporan.
(3) Pengarah Perubatan tidak boleh melepaskan pesakit itu melainkan jika dia berpuas hati, berasaskan pemeriksaan di bawah subseksyen (2) bahawa pesakit itu—
(a) tidak bercelaru mental; atau
(b) walaupun masih kecelaruan mental, tidak memerlukan jagaan atau rawatan lanjut di hospital psikiatri dan tidak berbahaya kepada dirinya atau kepada orang lain.
(4) Seseorang yang terkilan dengan keputusan Pengarah Perubatan di bawah subseksyen (3) yang enggan melepaskannya boleh merayu secara bertulis kepada Pelawat dalam masa empat belas hari dari tarikh penerimaan keputusan itu.
(5) Apabila suatu rayuan dibuat di bawah subseksyen (4), Pengarah Perubatan hendaklah mengemukakan laporan pemeriksaannya di bawah subseksyen (2) kepada Pelawat.
(6) Apabila menerima rayuan yang dibuat di bawah subseksyen
(4), Pelawat hendaklah memeriksa sendiri orang yang berkenaan dengannya rayuan itu dibuat dan merekodkan dapatan mereka dalam suatu laporan.
(7) Pelawat itu tidak boleh melepaskan pesakit itu melainkan jika mereka berpuas hati, berdasarkan pemeriksaan di bawah subseksyen
(6) dan laporan Pengarah Perubatan, bahawa pesakit itu—
(a) tidak bercelaru mental; atau
(b) walaupun masih bercelaru mental, tidak memerlukan jagaan atau rawatan lanjut di hospital psikiatri dan tidak berbahaya kepada dirinya atau kepada orang lain.
(8) Seseorang yang terkilan dengan keputusan Pelawat di bawah subseksyen (7) boleh merayu secara bertulis kepada Ketua Pengarah dalam masa empat belas hari dari tarikh penerimaan keengganan Pelawat untuk membenarkan pelepasannya.
(9) Apabila rayuan dibuat di bawah subseksyen (8), Pelawat hendaklah mengemukakan laporan pemeriksaan mereka di bawah subseksyen (6) bersama dengan laporan Pengarah Perubatan kepada Ketua Pengarah.
(10) Jika setelah mengambil kira keadaan mental semasa pesakit dan setelah menimbangkan laporan Pengarah Perubatan dan laporan Pelawat, Ketua Pengarah tidak berpuas hati bahawa penahanan lanjut pesakit itu perlu, dia hendaklah mengarahkan supaya pesakit itu dilepaskan.
Text as at 1 January 2006 (LOM reprint); amendments made after that date may not be incorporated.
Source: Laws of Malaysia, Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia (lom.agc.gov.my). Not a copy of the Gazette printed by the Government Printer (Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967, s 61).
