38. (1) The chair shall assign the members of the Board to sit in panels of three or five members to deal with particular cases. Who presides (2) The chair shall designate one member of each panel to preside over hearings conducted by the panel. Expertise in evaluating capacity (3) At least one of the members of a panel that is assigned to deal with a case involving capacity shall be a person with expertise in evaluating capacity. Quorum (4) A majority of the members of a panel constitutes a quorum. Same (5) If the panel is assigned to deal with a case involving capacity, a member with expertise in evaluating capacity is required to make up the quorum. Decision of panel is Board’s decision (6) The decision of a majority of the members of a panel is a decision of the Board. 1992, c.31, s.38. Time and place for hearing 39. (1) When the Board receives an application, it shall promptly fix a time and place for a hearing and notify the parties of them. Seven-day period (2) The hearing shall begin within seven days after the day the Board receives notice of the proceeding, unless the parties agree to a postponement. Decision and reasons (3) The Board shall render its decision within one day after the end of the hearing and shall provide written reasons to the parties within two days after rendering the decision. 1992, c.31, s.39. Examination of evidence 40. (1) Before the hearing, the parties shall be given an opportunity to examine and copy any documentary evidence that will be produced or any report whose contents will be given in evidence. Health record (2) Subject to subsections 35(6) and (7) of the Mental Health Act (withholding clinical record) and subsections 183(2) to (6) of the Child and Family Services Act (withholding record of mental disorder), the following persons are entitled to examine and to copy, at their own expense, any medical or other health record prepared in respect of a party: 1. If the party in respect of whom the record was prepared is at least sixteen years of age and capable, the party and his or her counsel or agent. 2. If the party in respect of whom the record was prepared is less than sixteen years of age or is incapable, the party’s counsel or agent. Same (3) Nothing in paragraph 2 of subsection (2) prevents the counsel or agent from disclosing the record to the party. 1992, c.31, s.40. Communication re subject-matter of hearing 41. (1) The members of the Board conducting a hearing shall not communicate directly or indirectly in relation to the subject-matter of the hearing with any party, counsel, agent or other person, unless all the parties and their counsel or agents receive notice and have an opportunity to participate. Exception (2) However, the members of the Board conducting the hearing may seek advice from an adviser independent of the parties, and in that case the nature of the advice shall be communicated to them so that they may make submissions as to the law. Only members at hearing to participate in decision (3) No member of the Board shall participate in a decision unless he or she was present throughout the hearing and heard the parties’ evidence and argument; except with the parties’ consent, no decision shall be rendered unless all the members so present participate in it. 1992, c.31, s.41. Release of documentary evidence 42. (1) Within a reasonable time after the final disposition of the proceeding, documents and things put in evidence at the hearing shall, on request, be released to the person who produced them. Return of clinical record (2) If an original clinical record as defined in subsection 35(1) of the Mental Health Act was put in evidence, it shall be returned to the psychiatric facility as soon as possible after the final disposition of the proceeding. 1992, c.31, s.42. Disqualification 43. (1) A member of the Board shall not take part in the hearing of a matter that concerns a person who is or was the member’s patient or client. Same (2) A member of the Board who is an officer or employee of a hospital or other health care or residential facility or has a direct financial interest in such a facility shall not take part in the hearing of a matter that concerns a person who is or was a patient or resident of the facility. 1992, c.31, s.43. Appeal 44. (1) A party to a proceeding before the Board may appeal the Board’s decision to the court on a question of law or fact or both. Time for filing notice of appeal (2) The appellant’s notice of appeal shall be filed, with proof of service, within seven days after he or she receives the Board’s written reasons for its decision. Notice to Board (3) The appellant shall give a copy of the notice of appeal to the Board. Record (4) The Board shall promptly file with the court the record of the proceeding before the Board, including a transcript of the oral evidence given at the hearing. Extension of time (5) The court may extend the time for filing the notice of appeal, even after the time has expired. Early date for appeal (6) The court shall fix for the hearing of the appeal the earliest date that is compatible with its just disposition. Appeal on the record, exception (7) The court shall hear the appeal on the record, but may receive new or additional evidence as it considers just. Powers of court on appeal (8) On the appeal, the court may, (a) exercise all the powers of the Board; (b) substitute its opinion for that of a health practitioner or for that of the Board; (c) refer the matter back to the Board, with directions, for rehearing in whole or in part. 1992, c.31, s.44. Order authorizing treatment pending appeal 45. (1) In the case of an appeal from a decision that would have the effect of authorizing a person to consent to a treatment, the treatment may be administered before the final disposition of the appeal, despite subsections 9(11) and (12) and section 21, if the court so orders and the consent is given. Criteria (2) The court may make the order only if it is satisfied that, (a) the person’s condition will be or is likely to be substantially improved by the treatment; (b) the person’s condition will not improve or is not likely to improve without the treatment; (c) the anticipated benefit from the treatment outweighs the risk of harm to the person; (d) the treatment is the least restrictive and least intrusive treatment that meets the requirements of clauses (a), (b) and (c); and (e) the person’s condition makes it necessary to administer the treatment before the final disposition of the appeal. 1992, c.31, s.45. Miscellaneous Offence: obstruction 46. (1) No person shall hinder or obstruct a rights adviser who is meeting with a person in accordance with section 9 or 33, or is seeking to do so. Exception (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the person with whom the rights adviser is meeting or seeking to meet. Penalty (3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding $5,000. 1992, c.31, s.46. Offence: false statement 47. (1) No person shall, in a statement made under subsection 17(11) (statement by family member), assert something that he or she knows to be untrue. Same (2) No person shall, in a statement about wishes someone has expressed with respect to treatment, assert something that the person knows to be untrue or profess an opinion that the person does not hold. Penalty (3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000. 1992, c.31, s.47. Regulations 48. (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations, (a) prescribing categories of persons for the purpose of the definition of “health practitioner” in subsection 1(1); (b) prescribing categories of persons for the purpose of the definition of “rights adviser” in subsection 1(1) and prescribing the circumstances in which persons in a prescribed category may act as rights advisers; (c) prescribing things that do not constitute treatment for the purpose of the definition of “treatment” in subsection 1(1); (d) prescribing forms for the purpose of subsection 5(4) (consent to treatment) with respect to specified treatments and circumstances, and specifying the treatments and circumstances; (e) prescribing the form of a notice under subsection 9(2) or (3); (f) prescribing other forms; (g) prescribing criteria to be applied and standards and procedures to be followed by health practitioners in determining capacity; (h) prescribing controlled acts within the meaning of subsection 27(2) of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 in respect of which notice is not required under subsection 9(3) or clause 9(4)(b); (i) prescribing health facilities for the purpose of subsection 19(1); (j) establishing minimum qualifications, standards, procedures and a code of conduct for rights advisers; (k) establishing a review procedure for dealing with complaints from any person relating to rights advisers; (l) establishing training programs for rights advisers. Rights advisers (2) A regulation made under clause (1)(j), (k) or (l) does not apply to a rights adviser who is authorized under the Advocacy Act, 1992 to provide advocacy services on behalf of the Advocacy Commission. Review procedure (3) The Ministry of Health shall provide written information about the review procedure established under clause (1)(k) to any person who requests it. 1992, c.31, s.48. Conflict with Child and Family Services Act 49. (1) If a provision of this Act conflicts with a provision of the Child and Family Services Act, the provision of the Child and Family Services Act prevails. Repeal *(2) Subsection (1) is repealed on the third anniversary of the day this Act receives Royal Assent. 1992, c.31, s.49. Transition 50. (1) This Act applies in respect of a treatment that is begun after the day this Act comes into force, even if a finding as to capacity was made or consent was given before that day. Same (2) This Act does not apply in respect of a treatment that is begun on or before the day this Act comes into force. 1992, c.31, s.50. Commencement **51. This Act comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. 1992, c.31, s.51. *Note: This Act received Royal Assent on the 10th day of December, 1992. **Note: Sections 35, 36 and 37 were proclaimed into force on July 27, 1994. Sections 1 to 34 and 38 to 52 were proclaimed into force on April 3, 1995. ______________ Français