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Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017

Assessment and treatment of persons suffering from severe substance addiction - Assessment

24: Restriction on signing compulsory treatment certificate for child or young person

You could also call this:

"Doctors need to check with Oranga Tamariki before forcing a young person into treatment for severe substance addiction."

Illustration for Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017

If you are a child or young person, a doctor can only sign a compulsory treatment certificate for you if they check with the department responsible for the administration of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 to see if they are involved with you. The doctor must find out how much the department is involved with you. The doctor can only sign the certificate if they think you cannot get the right treatment under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989. You will get the treatment you need for your severe substance addiction. The doctor has to be satisfied that the treatment cannot be given in another way before signing the certificate.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6609165.

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23: Compulsory treatment certificate, or

"A doctor's order for compulsory treatment to help you get better"

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25: Approved specialist to notify Area Director and arrange patient’s detention, or

"Doctor arranges help and care for you at a health facility if you need compulsory treatment."

Part 2Assessment and treatment of persons suffering from severe substance addiction
Assessment

24Restriction on signing compulsory treatment certificate for child or young person

  1. An approved specialist may sign a compulsory treatment certificate in respect of a child or young person—

  2. only after the specialist has confirmed, with the department responsible for the administration of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989, whether that department has any involvement with the child or young person (and the extent of any involvement); and
    1. only if satisfied that appropriate treatment for the severe substance addiction of the child or young person cannot be given in accordance with an order or other determination under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.

      Notes
      • Section 24(a): amended, on , by section 149 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 31).
      • Section 24(b): amended, on , by section 149 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 31).