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Mental Health Care Act, 2002 (Act No. 17 of 2002)

Chapter III : Rights and Duties relating to Mental Health Care Users

9. Consent to care, treatment and rehabilitation services and admission to health establishments

 

(1) A health care provider or a health establishment may provide care, treatment and rehabilitation services to or admit a mental health care user only if –
(a) the user has consented to the care, treatment and rehabilitation services or to admission;
(b) authorised by a court order or a Review Board; or
(c) due to mental illness, any delay in providing care, treatment and rehabilitation services or admission may result in the –
(i) death or irreversible harm to the health of the user;
(ii) user inflicting serious harm to himself or herself or others; or
(iii) user causing serious damage to or loss of property belonging to him or her or others.

 

(2) Any person or health establishment that provides care, treatment and rehabilitation services to a mental health care user or admits the user in circumstances referred to in subsection (1)(c) –
(a) must report this fact in writing in the prescribed manner to the relevant Review Board; and
(b) may not continue to provide care, treatment and rehabilitation services to the user concerned for longer than 24-hours unless an application in terms of Chapter V is made within the 24-hour period.