A device for supporting and positioning a patient in a medical equipment, comprisesa patient support means and a positioning mechanism supporting the patient support means. The positioning mechanism comprises a motorized rotary joint member (24) for positioning the patient support means by means of a motorized pivoting motion about a pivot axis (26). A rotational release unit (36) is associated with the motorized rotary joint member (24). This rotational release unit (36) comprises an override bearing (60) arranged adjacent to or in the in the motorized rotary joint member (24) so as to be substantially coaxial with the pivot axis (26), and to allow a free pivoting motion of the positioning mechanism about the pivot axis (26). A rotation locking mechanism (64) cooperates with the override bearing (60). This rotation locking mechanism (64) is switchable between a locked state, in which it locks the override bearing (60) in a mechanically defined angular position, and an unlocked state, in which the override bearing (60) is unlocked and the positioning mechanism can freely pivot about the pivot axis (26).
