Mental Health Act 2001 · Updated to 1 Feb 2014 · Part V · Admission, Lodging, Nursing Care and Rehabilitation of Mentally Disordered Persons in Psychiatric Nursing Home
Section 31
Feedback & supportSubject to subsections (2) and (3), a person who is suffering or convalescing from mental disorder may be admitted into a psychiatric nursing home as a voluntary patient—
mental disorder
“mental disorder” means any mental illness, arrested or incomplete development of the mind, psychiatric disorder or any other disorder or disability of the mind however acquired; and
upon his own request;
upon the request of a relative; or
relative
“relative” means any of the following persons of or above eighteen years of age: (a) husband or wife; (b) son or daughter; (c) father or mother; (d) brother or sister; (e) grandparent; (f) grandchild; (g) maternal or paternal uncle or aunt; (h) nephew or niece.
upon the request of a Medical Director of a psychiatric hospital.
Medical Director
“Medical Director” means— (a) the Medical Director of a psychiatric hospital appointed under subsection 5(1) or section 6, as the case may be, and includes a Deputy Medical Director appointed under the section; and (b) the Head of Psychiatry appointed under subsection 5(2);
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Notwithstanding subsection (1), no person shall be admitted into a psychiatric nursing home except under the direction of a medical officer or registered medical practitioner who is preferably a psychiatrist.
psychiatric nursing home
“psychiatric nursing home” means a government psychiatric nursing home or a private psychiatric nursing home, and includes a gazetted private psychiatric nursing home;
The patient referred to in subsection (1) shall not be admitted into the psychiatric nursing home except for the purpose of providing him with accommodation and nursing and rehabilitative care.
A patient admitted under this section or his relative may, on giving notice to the person in charge, request his discharge from the psychiatric nursing home and upon such request the patient shall not be kept in the psychiatric nursing home for more than twenty-four hours from the receipt by the person in charge of the notice.
person in charge
“person in charge” means the person responsible for the management and control of a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric nursing home or community mental health centre, as the case may be, and the supervision of the medical staff, nursing staff, technical staff and ancillary staff employed in the hospital, home or centre;
A patient admitted to a psychiatric nursing home under this section shall be examined by a medical officer or registered medical practitioner regularly, and in any case at least once in every two weeks.
medical officer
“medical officer” means a registered medical practitioner in the service of the Government of Malaysia;
Where a medical officer or a registered medical practitioner is satisfied that—
registered medical practitioner
“registered medical practitioner” means a person who is registered as such under the Medical Act 1971 and who holds a valid practicing certificate under the Act;
the patient’s mental condition has deteriorated; and
it is necessary for the health or safety of the patient or for the protection of other persons that he receives further care and treatment, the medical officer or registered medical practitioner shall recommend that the patient be admitted to a psychiatric hospital either voluntarily or in accordance with section 10; and in the event that no relative of the person is available to make an application under section 10, the person in charge of the nursing home may make the application under paragraph 10(1)(a) as if the person in charge were a relative of the patient.
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