The Commission arranges for an independent consultant psychiatrist to provide a report on the mental health of patients who are involuntarily detained.
The independent consultant psychiatrist will arrange to examine the patient, interview their treating consultant and review their hospital records. They will then provide a report on the patient’s mental health to the tribunal and the patient’s legal representative.
The Commission maintains a panel of consultant psychiatrists to carry out independent medical examinations under section 17 of the 2001 Act. This panel is appointed as per How panels 1 to 4 are appointed. To be on the panel, consultants must have their name entered on the division of psychiatry of the Register of Medical Specialists maintained by the Medical Council of Ireland. There are 146 active independent consultant psychiatrists on the panel as of 1 September 2023.
