18. Child or young person in need of medical examination or treatment

If a protector or police officer who takes a child or young person into temporary custody under section 17(1) is of the opinion that he is in need of medical examination or treatment, such protector or police officer may, instead of taking him to a place of safety, take him to a medical officer.

If at the time of being taken into temporary custody under section 17(1) a child or young person is a patient in a hospital, the protector or police officer may leave him in the hospital.

If a protector or police officer does not take a child or young person into temporary custody under section 17(1) but is of the opinion that he is in need of medical examination or treatment, he may in writing direct the person who appears to have the care of that child or young person to forthwith take him to a medical officer.

If the person referred to in subsection (3) fails to comply within 48 hours with a direction made under that subsection, a protector or police officer may take the child or young person into temporary custody for the purpose of taking him to a medical officer.