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Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017

Assessment and treatment of persons suffering from severe substance addiction - Rights of patients - Rights applicable to all patients

57: Right to legal advice

You could also call this:

"You can get help from a lawyer when you're a patient and need advice about your rights."

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

You have the right to ask a lawyer for advice when you are a patient. You can ask a lawyer to explain your status and rights as a patient, or to help with any other legal issue you have. The lawyer can help you understand your situation.

If a lawyer agrees to help you, they must be allowed to see you when they want to. They must also give you their legal advice as soon as they can. This means you can get help from a lawyer when you need it.

You can find more information about this law by looking at the Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017 and similar laws, such as the law from 1992, s 70.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6609204.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Courts and legal helpHealth and wellbeing > Mental health
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56: Right to independent advice from approved specialist, or

"You can choose a specialist to give you a second opinion about your condition."

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58: Right to company, or

"You have the right to have someone with you when you're getting help as a patient."

Part 2Assessment and treatment of persons suffering from severe substance addiction
Rights of patients: Rights applicable to all patients

57Right to legal advice

  1. Every patient is entitled to request a lawyer to advise the patient on his or her status and rights as a patient, or on any other legal issue.

  2. If the lawyer agrees to act for the patient, the lawyer—

  3. must be permitted access to the patient when he or she requests to see the patient; and
    1. must provide his or her legal advice as soon as practicable.

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