Investigation
Psychiatric Patient Injury During Detention
Date Published: 2014-06-03
Province: Nova Scotia
Police Agency: Halifax Regional Police
Summary
On February 3, 2014, at 12:28p.m. the Nova Scotia Hospital contacted the Halifax Regional Police (HRP) to alert them that the Affected Person ( AP), a 27- year-old male, had left the hospital without a certificate of leave. He was an involuntary patient under the provisions of the Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act (IPTA). Such patients are hospitalized against their wishes if, because of a mental disorder, they are a threat to themselves or others, or they are likely to suffer serious physical or mental impairment. Under subsection 46(1) of the IPTA , where an involuntary patient leaves a psychiatric facility when a certificate of leave has not been granted, the police may apprehend the person in order to return them to the facility. In the call to police, the hospital also indicated AP was incapable of making decisions. At 1p.m., police learned that AP was at his apartment in a building on South Park St. Officers 1and 2went to that building. They were later joined by Office…