15 (1) Where a physician examines a person and has reasonable cause to believe that the person, (a) has threatened or attempted or is threatening or attempting to cause bodily harm to himself or herself; (b) has behaved or is behaving violently towards another person or has caused or is causing another person to fear bodily harm from him or her; or (c) has shown or is showing a lack of competence to care for himself or herself, and if in addition the physician is of the opinion that the person is apparently suffering from mental disorder of a nature or quality that likely will result in, (d) serious bodily harm to the person; (e) serious bodily harm to another person; or (f) serious physical impairment of the person, the physician may make application in the prescribed form for a psychiatric assessment of the person.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.7, s. 15 (1); 2000, c. 9, s. 3 (1). Same (1.1) Where a physician examines a person and has reasonable cause to believe that the person, (a) has previously received treatment for mental disorder of an ongoing or recurring nature that, when not treated, is of a nature or quality that likely will result in serious bodily harm to the person or to another person or substantial mental or physical deterioration of the person or serious physical impairment of the person; and (b) has shown clinical improvement as a result of the treatment, and if in addition the physician is of the opinion that the person, (c) is apparently suffering from the same mental disorder as the one for which he or she previously received treatment or from a mental disorder that is similar to the previous one; (d) given the person’s history of mental disorder and current mental or physical condition, is likely to cause serious bodily harm to himself or herself or to another person or is likely to suffer substantial mental or physical deterioration or serious physical impairment; and (e) is incapable, within the meaning of the Health Care Consent Act, 1996, of consenting to his or her treatment in a psychiatric facility and the consent of his or her substitute decision-maker has been obtained, the physician may make application in the prescribed form for a psychiatric assessment of the person.  2000, c. 9, s. 3 (2). Contents of application (2) An application under subsection (1) or (1.1) shall set out clearly that the physician who signs the application personally examined the person who is the subject of the application and made careful inquiry into all of the facts necessary for him or her to form his or her opinion as to the nature and quality of the mental disorder of the person.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.7, s. 15 (2); 2000, c. 9, s. 3 (3). Idem (3) A physician who signs an application under subsection (1) or (1.1), (a) shall set out in the application the facts upon which he or she formed his or her opinion as to the nature and quality of the mental disorder; (b) shall distinguish in the application between the facts observed by him or her and the facts communicated to him or her by others; and (c) shall note in the application the date on which he or she examined the person who is the subject of the application.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.7, s. 15 (3); 2000, c. 9, s. 3 (4). Signing of application (4) An application under subsection (1) or (1.1) is not effective unless it is signed by the physician within seven days after he or she examined the person who is the subject of the examination.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.7, s. 15 (4); 2000, c. 9, s. 3 (5). Authority of application (5) An application under subsection (1) or (1.1) is sufficient authority for seven days from and including the day on which it is signed by the physician, (a) to any person to take the person who is the subject of the application in custody to a psychiatric facility forthwith; and (b) to detain the person who is the subject of the application in a psychiatric facility and to restrain, observe and examine him or her in the facility for not more than 72 hours.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.7, s. 15 (5); 2000, c. 9, s. 3 (6). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2000, c. 9, s. 3 (1-6)
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