Mental Treatment Act, 1945

Extension of period of detention of temporary patient.

189.—(1) Where the chief medical officer of an approved institution becomes of opinion that a person detained in the institution under a temporary chargeable patient reception order or a temporary private patient reception order will not have recovered on the expiration of the period during which, pursuant to paragraph (b) of sub-section (1) of section 186 of this Act, he may be detained—

(a) the person in charge of the institution may request the Minister to extend the said period,

(b) where such request is made, the Minister, if he so thinks fit, may by order extend the said period by a further period not exceeding six months or by a series of orders extend it by further periods none of which shall exceed six months and the aggregate of which shall not exceed eighteen months,

(c) where the Minister makes any such order or orders, paragraph (b) of sub-section (1) of section 186 of this Act shall have effect subject to the extension of the said period effected by such order or orders.

(2) In sub-section (1) of this section, the reference to a chief medical officer shall, where the relevant approved institution consists of premises for the reception of one person only, be construed as a reference to the medical attendant of the person detained.