87Admission of minor

(1) A minor may be admitted to a mental health establishment only after following the procedure laid down in this section.

(2) The nominated representative of the minor shall apply to the medical officer in charge of a mental health establishment for admission of the minor to the establishment.

(3) Upon receipt of such an application, the medical officer or mental health professional in charge of the mental health establishment may admit such a minor to the establishment, if two psychiatrists, or one psychiatrist and one mental health professional or one psychiatrist and one medical practitioner, have independently examined the minor on the day of admission or in the preceding seven days and both independently conclude based on the examination and, if appropriate, on information provided by others, that,—

(a) the minor has a mental illness of a severity requiring admission to a mental health establishment;

(b) admission shall be in the best interests of the minor, with regard to his health, well-being or safety, taking into account the wishes of the minor if ascertainable and the reasons for reaching this decision;

(c) the mental healthcare needs of the minor cannot be fulfilled unless he is admitted; and

(d) all community based alternatives to admission have been shown to have failed or are demonstrably unsuitable for the needs of the minor.

(4) A minor so admitted shall be accommodated separately from adults, in an environment that takes into account his age and developmental needs and is at least of the same quality as is provided to other minors admitted to hospitals for other medical treatments.

(5) The nominated representative or an attendant appointed by the nominated representative shall under all circumstances stay with the minor in the mental health establishment for the entire duration of the admission of the minor to the mental health establishment.

(6) In the case of minor girls, where the nominated representative is male, a female attendant shall be appointed by the nominated representative and under all circumstances shall stay with the minor girl in the mental health establishment for the entire duration of her admission.

(7) A minor shall be given treatment with the informed consent of his nominated representative.

(8) If the nominated representative no longer supports admission of the minor under this section or requests discharge of the minor from the mental health establishment, the minor shall be discharged by the mental health establishment.

(9) Any admission of a minor to a mental health establishment shall be informed by the medical officer or mental health professional in charge of the mental health establishment to the concerned Board within a period of seventy-two hours.

(10) The concerned Board shall have the right to visit and interview the minor or review the medical records if the Board desires to do so.

(11) Any admission of a minor which continues for a period of thirty days shall be immediately informed to the concerned Board.

(12) The concerned Board shall carry out a mandatory review within a period of seven days of being informed, of all admissions of minors continuing beyond thirty days and every subsequent thirty days.

(13) The concerned Board shall at minimum, review the clinical records of the minor and may interview the minor if necessary.