What is the purpose of an ITO?
A. An ITO is a legal document and is the basis for involuntary treatment while a person remains an involuntary patient. It replaces the old concept in the Mental Health Act of ‘admission and detention’. When an ITO is made, the person becomes an involuntary patient of the relevant approved mental health service. The ITO also establishes the point in time when the 24-hour clock starts ticking for the examination by the authorised psychiatrist under section 12AC.
