Child Act 2001 · Updated to 1 Jul 2023 · Chapter · Temporary Custody and Medical Examination and Treatment
24. Authorization of medical treatment
Feedback & supportIf, in the opinion of a medical officer, the child referred to in section 21 requires treatment for a minor illness, injury or condition, a Protector or police officer may authorize such treatment.
medical officer
“medical officer” means a registered medical practitioner in the service of the Government and includes a registered medical practitioner in any teaching hospital of a public institution of higher learning, but does not include a registered medical practitioner in any part of the Government hospital or teaching hospital of a public institution of higher learning, which are privatized or corporatized;
If, in the opinion of a medical officer, the child referred to in section 21 is suffering from a serious illness, injury or condition or requires surgery or psychiatric treatment, a Protector or police officer—
Protector
“Protector” means— (a) the Director General; (b) the Deputy Director General; (c) a Divisional Director of Social Welfare, Department of Social Welfare; (d); (e) any Social Welfare Officer appointed under section 8;
shall immediately notify or take reasonable steps to notify and consult the parent or guardian of the child or any person having authority to consent to such treatment;
and
may, with the written consent of the parent or guardian or such person, authorize such medical or surgical or psychiatric treatment as may be considered necessary by a medical officer.
If a medical officer has certified in writing that there is immediate risk to the health of a child, a Protector may authorize, without obtaining the consent referred to in subsection (2), such medical or surgical or psychiatric treatment as may be considered necessary by the medical officer but only under any of the following circumstances:
that the parent or guardian of the child or any person having authority to consent to such treatment has unreasonably refused to give, or abstained from giving, consent to such treatment;
that the parent or guardian or the person referred to in paragraph (a) is not available or cannot be found within a reasonable time; or
the Protector believes on reasonable grounds that the parent or guardian or the person referred to in paragraph (a)
has ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed, or sexually abused, the child.
Steps to be taken after medical examination or treatment