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Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017

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

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

You could also call this:

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

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

When a doctor who is an approved specialist decides you need compulsory treatment, they must do a few things. They must tell the Area Director who you are as soon as they can. The doctor must also talk to the Area Director and arrange for you to be taken care of in a health facility, as described in the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001, until you can go to a treatment centre. The doctor is making these arrangements so you can get the help you need. You will be treated according to the rules outlined in subpart 5 and subpart 2 while you are being detained.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6609166.

Topics:
Health and wellbeing > Mental healthHealth and wellbeing > Public healthCrime and justice > Criminal law
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24: Restriction on signing compulsory treatment certificate for child or young person, or

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

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26: Information to be given to patient and others, or

"People helping you with substance addiction must tell you and others about your rights and give you important information."

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

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

  1. As soon as practicable after an approved specialist dates and signs a compulsory treatment certificate, the approved specialist must—

  2. notify the Area Director of the identity of the patient to whom the certificate relates:
    1. after consultation with the Area Director, arrange for the patient to be detained in a facility that is used for the purpose of providing health care services (within the meaning of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001) until the patient is admitted to a treatment centre under subpart 2.

      1. Subpart 5 applies to the patient and their detention under this section.