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

Regulations

General Regulations

Chapter 5 : Surgical Procedures, Medical or Therapeutic Treatment

33. Electro-convulsive treatment

 

(1) Electro-convulsive treatment must be conducted by a psychiatrist or medical practitioner with special training in mental health and may only be carried out under a general anaesthetic together with a muscle relaxant.

[Regulation 33(1) substituted by regulation 17(a) of Notice No. 1590, GG 40515, dated 23 December 2016]

 

(2) No mental health care user may have more than one electro-convulsive treatment carried out in a 24-hour period and such treatment may not be administered more frequently than on alternate days.

 

(3) The provisions of regulation 35 relating to consent must be adhered to in the case of electro-convulsive treatment.

 

(4) A health establishment that wishes to perform electro-convulsive treatment must apply in writing and shall be authorized by the provincial head of department concerned.

[Regulation 33(4) substituted by regulation 17(b) of Notice No. 1590, GG 40515, dated 23 December 2016]

 

(5) Whenever electro-convulsive treatment is performed, a register kept for that purpose must be signed and completed by the relevant psychiatrist or medical practitioner and a transcript of the register must be submitted by the health establishment concerned to the Review Board on a quarterly basis in the form of Form MHCA 47 of the Annexure to give effect to Section 19(1)(b) of the Act.

[Regulation 33 (5) substituted by regulation 17(c) of Notice No. 1590, GG 40515, dated 23 December 2016]