Versions

Mental Health Amendment Act, 1997

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The bill amends the Mental Health Act to ensure that a person who suffers from a mental disorder may be admitted to a psychiatric facility as an involuntary patient if the disorder is likely to result in serious physical impairment or in a substantial physical or mental deterioration of the person. Currently the Act provides that a person can only be admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric facility if the mental disorder will likely result in serious bodily harm to the person or another or in a serious and imminent physical impairment of the person.

Bill 111 1997

An Act to amend the Mental Health Act

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1. Clauses 15 (1) (e) and (f) of the Mental Health Act are repealed and the following substituted:

(e) serious bodily harm to another person;

(f) serious physical impairment of the person; or

(g) substantial mental or physical deterioration of the person that is likely to be alleviated by treatment in a psychiatric facility.

2. Clauses 16 (1) (e) and (f) of the Act are repealed and the following substituted:

(e) serious bodily harm to another person;

(f) serious physical impairment of the person; or

(g) substantial mental or physical deterioration of the person that is likely to be alleviated by treatment in a psychiatric facility.

3. Clauses 17 (e) and (f) of the Act are repealed and the following substituted:

(e) serious bodily harm to another person;

(f) serious physical impairment of the person; or

(g) substantial mental or physical deterioration of the person that is likely to be alleviated by treatment in a psychiatric facility.

4. (1) Subclauses 20 (1) (c) (ii) and (iii) of the Act are repealed and the following substituted:

(ii) serious bodily harm to another person,

(iii) serious physical impairment of the person, or

(iv) substantial mental or physical deterioration of the person,

(2) Subclauses 20 (5) (a) (ii) and (iii) of the Act are repealed and the following substituted:

(ii) serious bodily harm to another person,

(iii) serious physical impairment of the patient, or

(iv) substantial mental or physical deterioration of the patient,

5. Clauses 39 (1) (b) and (c) of the Act are repealed and the following substituted:

(b) serious bodily harm to another person;

(c) serious physical impairment of the patient; or

(d) substantial mental or physical deterioration of the patient.

Commencement

6. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

7. The short title of this Act is the Mental Health Amendment Act, 1997.