Part X Consent to Treatment
97 Treatment requiring consent and a second opinion.
(1)
This section applies to the following forms of medical treatment for mental disorder—
(a)
any surgical operation for destroying brain tissue or for destroying the functioning of brain tissue; and
(b)
such other forms of treatment as may be specified for the purposes of this section by regulations made by the Secretary of State.
(2)
Subject to section 102 of this Act, a patient shall not be given any form of treatment to which this section applies unless he has consented to it and—
(a)
a medical practitioner (not being the responsible medical officer) appointed for the purposes of this Part of this Act by the Mental Welfare Commission and two other persons (not being medical practitioners) appointed for the purposes of this paragraph by the Commission have certified in writing that the patient is capable of understanding the nature, purpose and likely effects of the treatment in question and has consented to it; and
(b)
the medical practitioner referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection has certified in writing that, having regard to the likelihood of the treatment alleviating or preventing a deterioration of the patient’s condition, the treatment should be given.
(3)
Before giving a certificate under subsection (2)(b) of this section the medical practitioner concerned shall consult such person or persons who appear to him to be principally concerned with the patient’s medical treatment.
(4)
Where any person has given a certificate under subsection (2)(a) or (b) of this section he shall send a copy thereof to the Mental Welfare Commission within 7 days of the day on which the certificate was given.
(5)
A medical practitioner or other person appointed as is mentioned in subsection (2)(a) of this section may, for the purpose of exercising his functions under this Part of this Act or (as the case may be) subsection (2)(a) of this section, at any reasonable time—
(a)
in private visit and interview any patient; and
(b)
in the case of a medical practitioner, examine any patient and require the production of and inspect any records relating to the treatment of the patient.
(6)
Before making any regulations for the purposes of this section the Secretary of State shall consult such bodies as appear to him to be concerned.