98 Treatment requiring consent or a second opinion.S
(1)This section applies to the following forms of medical treatment for mental disorder—
(a)such forms of treatment as may be specified for the purposes of this section by regulations made by the Secretary of State; and
(b)the administration of medicine to a patient by any means (not being a form of treatment specified under paragraph (a) of this subsection or section 97 of this Act) at any time during a period for which he is liable to be detained as a patient to whom this Part of this Act applies if 3 months or more have elapsed since the first occasion in that period when medicine was administered to him by any means for his mental disorder.
(2)The Secretary of State may by order vary the length of the period mentioned in subsection (1)(b) of this section.
(3)Subject to section 102 of this Act, a patient shall not be given any form of treatment to which this section applies unless—
(a)he has consented to that treatment and either the responsible medical officer or a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part of this Act by the Mental Welfare Commission has certified in writing that the patient is capable of understanding its nature, purpose and likely effects and has consented to it; or
(b)a medical practitioner (not being the responsible medical officer) appointed as aforesaid has certified in writing that the patient is not capable of understanding the nature, purpose and likely effects of that treatment or has not consented to it, but that, having regard to the likelihood of its alleviating or preventing a deterioration of his condition, the treatment should be given.
(4)Before giving a certificate under subsection (3)(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.
(5)Where any person has given a certificate under subsection (3)(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.
(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.