Commentary on Sections Part 7 – Compulsory Treatment Orders Application for order Sections 63, 64 and 67 to 69: consideration by the Tribunal
105.Section 63 deals with the application for a compulsory treatment order. Subsection (2) sets out the matters that must be stated in the application and subsection (3) lists the documents that must accompany the application.
106.For patients who are already subject to a short-term detention certificate (or an extension certificate), section 68 provides that once an application under section 63 has been submitted to the Tribunal, the patient’s detention in hospital under authority of the certificate is automatically extended for a further five working days. This is to enable the Tribunal to have sufficient time to come to a decision on the application. Section 69 requires the Tribunal either to make an interim compulsory treatment order or determine the application for the compulsory treatment order before the end of that extended period.
107.On receipt of an application for a compulsory treatment order, the Tribunal must make arrangements under section 64 to consider it. Subsections (2) and (3) require the Tribunal to afford various parties an opportunity to make representations. Tribunal rules made under schedule 2 to the Act will set out further procedural requirements.
108.Section 64(5) sets out the conditions which the Tribunal must be satisfied are met when deciding whether or not to make a compulsory treatment order. If so satisfied, the Tribunal must consider which of the measures from the list set out in section 66(1) are appropriate in the patient’s case.