Health authorities say a patient at the new Adult Mental health Unit was handcuffed to a bed for several days last month because he was a risk to the public and to health workers.
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But mental health advocates say the man's treatment was ''simply inappropriate''.
The male patient, a prisoner at the territory's jail, was taken to the new Adult Mental Health Unit by corrections officers after a ''serious incident'' at the Alexander Maconochie Centre last month.
But staff at the unit were disturbed when handcuffs were used to shackle the man to a bed for much of his five-day stay at the unit.
Prison officers insisted on the treatment, arguing it was the only way to ensure the safety and security of the prisoner and other patients.
In a statement issued in response to a series of questions from Fairfax, a Health Directorate spokesman said the use of the cuffs was justified by ''non-compliant, unpredictable and aggressive behaviour'' in a detainee.
''The Health Directorate and Justice and Community Safety Directorate confirm that an Alexander Maconochie Centre detainee was transferred to the Canberra Hospital Adult Mental Health Unit following a serious incident at the AMC last month,'' the spokesman said.
''On occasions when a detainee continues to display non-compliant, unpredictable and aggressive behaviour towards ACT Corrective Services staff, the security classification of the detainee as well as safety for the public, staff and detainee is assessed and may result in the justifiable use of equipment such as handcuffs being used.''
The spokesman said decisions had been made in the interests of the public and the hospital staff.
''Where a decision is made to escort a detainee from the AMC for any reason, the safety of staff, the detainee, the public and in this case hospital staff, is always considered and the most appropriate security arrangements are implemented to best ensure safety,'' he said.
''Where a decision is made to escort a detainee from the AMC for any reason, the security of the detainee is also of paramount consideration to ensure continued safe custody of the detainee throughout the escort.
''Reasonable force and sustained intervention by custodial officers is sometimes required in instances whereby a detainee has been involved in a serious incident at the AMC.''
But ACT Mental Health Consumers' Network executive officer Dalane Drexler said the man's treatment was not appropriate in a modern facility.
''This is simply inappropriate and we'd love to know the why behind it,'' Ms Drexler said.
''Was the mental health facility at the AMC completely full, and if it was completely full, was there a more appropriate person who could have been transferred, other than this person who clearly needed to be restrained?
''This is not good for the patient, it's not good for the staff and it's not good for the other patients either.''