Page:Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008.pdf/13

Rh specified in that order for the purpose of such removal and the patient shall be delivered up accordingly.

Return to Singapore

19. Any patient removed from Singapore under section 17 shall not return to Singapore except by permission of the Minister.

Application for order for payment of cost of maintenance

20.—(1) If any patient detained in a psychiatric institution under the provisions of this Act has an estate applicable to his maintenance, or if any person legally bound to maintain the patient has the means to maintain him, the principal officer of the institution may apply to the court for an order for the payment of the cost of maintenance of the patient.

(2) The court shall inquire into the matter in a summary way, and on being satisfied that the patient has an estate applicable to his maintenance, or that any person is legally bound to maintain and has the means of maintaining the patient, may make an order for the recovery of the cost of maintenance of the patient, together with the costs of the application, out of the estate or from the person.

(3) An order made by a court under subsection (2) shall be enforced in the same manner and shall be of the same force and effect and subject to the same appeal as a judgment or order made by that court in a suit in respect of the property or person mentioned in that subsection.

Saving of liability of relatives

21. The liability of any relative or other person to maintain any mentally disordered person shall not be taken away or affected by any provision in this Act.

Offences against patients

22.—(1) Any medical practitioner, nurse, attendant or other person employed by or rendering service in any psychiatric institution or hospital referred to in section 15(5), who ill-treats any patient shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person ill-treats a patient if he—
 * (a) subjects the patient to physical or sexual abuse;