Western Australian Consolidated Acts

HEALTH ACT 1911 - SECT 309

309 .         Provision for examination of prisoners and persons in industrial schools

        (1)         In the construction and application of this section, the following definition shall apply —

        prisoner shall include any person in gaol, whether male or female.

        (2)         It shall be the duty of every medical officer attached to any gaol to examine any prisoner (except a prisoner under remand) whom he may suspect of suffering from venereal disease, and if, as a result of such examination, the medical officer is of opinion that the prisoner is so suffering, he shall forthwith notify the Executive Director, Public Health in writing, giving the name of the prisoner and particulars of his diagnosis.

        (3)         It shall be the further duty of such medical officer to re-examine every such prisoner at least 14 days before he is due to be discharged, and if he is then found to be suffering from venereal disease, such medical officer shall, at least 7 days before the date of his discharge, notify the Executive Director, Public Health of the fact, giving his name and prospective address (if any), and the due date of his discharge.

                The Executive Director, Public Health may thereupon either issue an order directing such prisoner to be transferred to such hospital (including any gaol hospital) or other place specified or give notice to such prisoner that he shall, within 3 days, place himself under such treatment as the Executive Director, Public Health may direct, and he may be proceeded against and dealt with, as provided in subsections (2) to (8), inclusive, of section 307.

        (4)         For the due carrying out of the provisions of this section alone, the Executive Director, Public Health may appoint any medical officer as his deputy.

        [Section 309 inserted by No. 17 of 1918 s. 42; amended by No. 34 of 1942 s. 4; No. 28 of 1984 s. 45; No. 34 of 2004 Sch. 2 cl. 12(3) and (4).]