77Representation of persons entitled to be heard, and special rights of patient

1. Every person who is entitled to appear and be heard at a hearing of an application may be represented by a lawyer, and may call witnesses, and may cross-examine every witness called by another party.

2. If the patient is present and appears capable of addressing the court, the court must give the patient an opportunity to do so.

3. While the patient is addressing the court under subsection (2), the court may, if it thinks it desirable to do so, require any of the following persons to withdraw from the court:

4. a parent of the patient:
5. a guardian of the patient:
6. the patient’s principal caregiver:
7. the patient’s welfare guardian:
8. the patient’s nominated person:
9. the person who applied, under section 14, to have the patient assessed:
10. a person with whom the patient was living before the patient became subject to compulsory status:
11. the manager, or an employee or agent, of a treatment centre in which the patient is, or has been, detained:
12. a lawyer representing a person referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (h).