Commentary on Sections Part 6 – Short-Term Detention Effect of granting of short-term detention certificate
85.By virtue of section 44(5), a certificate granted by an approved medical practitioner authorises three measures:
	removal to hospital within three days of the certificate being granted.
	detention in hospital for 28 days. The 28 day detention period starts at the beginning of the day on which the patient was admitted to hospital for a patient who is not already in hospital. For a patient who is already in hospital, the 28 day detention period starts at the beginning of the day on which the certificate was granted.
	the giving of medical treatment, in accordance with Part 16.
86.Subsection (1) of section 45 provides that, on being asked to consent to short-term detention, the mental health officer must, if practicable, interview the patient and ascertain the name and address of the patient’s named person. The mental health officer must also inform the patient of the availability of advocacy services under section 259 of the Act. Subsections (2) and (3) provide that if it is impracticable for the mental health officer to interview the patient and ascertain the name and address of the named person, the mental health officer must give to the approved medical practitioner a copy of a record which states the steps they have taken in attempting to comply with these duties.