Scanning, frisk and ordinary searches of patients
40 Scanning, frisk and ordinary searches of patients
The director-general may, at any time, direct an authorised health practitioner to conduct a scanning search, frisk search or ordinary search of a patient if the director-general believes on reasonable grounds that it is prudent to conduct the search to protect—
the safety of anyone at the secure mental health facility; or
security or good order at the secure mental health facility.
Examples—when search may be conducted
1 on a patient’s admission to the secure mental health facility
2 when a patient returns from leave to the secure mental health facility
3 following a visit from a visitor to the secure mental health facility
Also, an authorised health practitioner may conduct a scanning search, frisk search or ordinary search of a patient if the authorised health practitioner suspects on reasonable grounds that the patient is carrying—
a prohibited thing; or
anything else that creates, or is likely to create, a risk to—
the personal safety of the patient or anyone else; or
security or good order at the secure mental health facility.
Note Section 52 provides for the use of force to carry out searches under this part.
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