Lunacy Act, 1890

Discharge of private patient.

72.—(1) A private patient detained in an institution for lunatics, or under care as a single patient, shall be discharged if the person on whose petition the reception order was made by writing under his hand so directs.

(2) If that person is dead, or incapable by reason of insanity, absence from England, or otherwise, of signing an order for discharge, or, if a patient having been originally classified as a pauper is afterwards classified as a private patient, the person who made the last payment on account of the patient, or the husband or wife, or if there is no husband or wife, or the husband or wife is incapable as aforesaid, the father, or if there is no father, or he is incapable as aforesaid, the mother of the patient, or, if there is no mother, or she is incapable, then any one of the nearest of kin of the patient, may give the direction for his discharge.

(3) If there is no person qualified to direct the discharge of a patient under this section, or no person able or willing to act, the Commissioners may order his discharge.