I have been looking for information on what happens when the three panel members (Hospital managers) can not agree to a discharge. Do you get a fourth member and hold the hearing again or do you get a completely new panel. Does anyone know whether I can get this information from…
In my experience as a Hospital Manager a new panel would be selected but I would suggest that this is a fairly rare event.
Advice from Richard Jones .
You do not adjourn to get 4th member or new Panel
All three members have to agree so you do not discharge
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Hi, yes that’s correct. All 3 members have to agree for a patient to be discharged.
See this case: R (Tagoe-Thompson) v The Hospital Managers of the Park Royal Centre [2003] EWCA Civ 330
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I agree with Mary and have been informed in the past that the unanimous is to discharge not to keep detained therefore if they cannot agree to discharge the patient remains detained and no new panel is required.
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