§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health what is the procedure laid down in respect to a patient of a mental institution under the Lunacy and Mental Deficiency Acts writing letters to people outside of the institution; and what are the prohibitions in this respect.
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§ Mr. VosperEvery patient has the right to have any letter sent unopened to:
- (a) the Management Committee of the hospital or any member of the Committee;
- (b) the Board of Control or any one of the Commissioners of the Board;
- (c) the Lord Chancellor;
- (d) the Minister of Health;
- (e) any Judge in Lunacy;
- (f) the Chancery Visitors or any Chancery Visitor:
- (g) the person who signed the order for the patient's reception into the hospital or who placed the patient there;
- (h) if a patient is resident under an order made on petition, the person on whose petition the order was made;
- (i) in the case of a temporary patient the person who made the application for the patient's reception or, if such person is not a relative, to the relative named therein or to the person having authority to direct discharge.
Apart from these letters, other letters before being posted may be examined by a medical officer or other responsible official. When there is a doubt as to the propriety of their despatch, the decision is a matter for the discretion of the Superintendent.