Mental Health Act 2001 · Updated to 1 Feb 2014 · Part II
9. Admission of voluntary patient into psychiatric hospital
Feedback & supportA person may be admitted to a psychiatric hospital as a voluntary patient—
psychiatric hospital
“psychiatric hospital” means a government psychiatric hospital or a private psychiatric hospital including a gazetted private psychiatric hospital;
upon his own request; or
in the case of a minor, on an application in his behalf by his guardian to the Medical Director of the psychiatric hospital,
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made in such form as may be prescribed.
The Medical Director may refuse to admit a person as a voluntary patient if he is not satisfied that the person is likely to benefit from the care or treatment in the psychiatric hospital as a voluntary patient.
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);
A voluntary patient, or if the voluntary patient is a minor, his guardian, may give notice to the Medical Director requesting the discharge of the voluntary patient from the psychiatric hospital.
voluntary patient
“voluntary patient” means a person admitted to a psychiatric hospital under section 9;
Subject to an order made under subsection (5), a voluntary patient whose discharge has been requested under subsection (3) shall not be kept in the psychiatric hospital for more than seventy-two hours from the date of the notice given under that subsection.
The voluntary patient whose discharge has been requested under subsection (3) shall be examined by a medical officer or registered medical practitioner not involved in the management of the patient, and if the medical officer or registered medical practitioner is satisfied that—
medical officer
“medical officer” means a registered medical practitioner in the service of the Government of Malaysia;
the patient is mentally disordered; and
it is necessary for the health or safety of the patient or for the protection of other persons that he continues to receive further care and treatment in the psychiatric hospital, the medical officer or registered medical practitioner shall make an order in the prescribed form signed by him for the further detention of the patient in the psychiatric hospital for a period not exceeding one month.
The Medical Director may—
grant leave of absence to any voluntary patient; or
at any time discharge a voluntary patient if he is satisfied that—
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it is in the interest of the patient to discharge him;
and
the patient is not in need of any further care and treatment in the psychiatric hospital.