Section 12 Massachusetts Patient Rights

House bill 4681 an act to improve emergency access to mental health services section 12 law was passed by the legislature and signed into law by governor patrick.
Section 12 massachusetts patient rights. In massachusetts section 12 of chapter 123 of the massachusetts general laws controls the admission of an individual to a general or psychiatric hospital for psychiatric evaluation and potentially treatment. As of november 8 2010 licsws in the commonwealth of massachusetts will be authorized to sign a section 12 a known as a pink paper a pink paper is the mechanism by which a licsw moves to hospitalize an individual believed to meet the criteria for civil commitment. Emergency restraint and hospitalization of persons posing risk of serious harm by reason of mental illness.
2 in the course of his stay in an in patient facility the patient shall have a right tokeep contact with other persons either in writing or verbally and to receive visitors. The hospital regulations maygrant further rights in addition to those set out in subsections 2 to 7. In massachusetts section 12 of chapter 123 of the massachusetts general laws controls the admission of an individual to a general or psychiatric hospital for psychiatric evaluation and potentially treatment.
First of all the section 12 commitment is for a maximum of three 3 days. Where police have a valid section 12 document issued by an appropriate clinician and voluntary compliance on the part of the patient is unsuccessful or where seeking voluntary compliance is contraindicated in keeping with the objective of patient police and public safety police are authorized pursuant to this policy to execute entry into a home in order to locate and bring the patient to a mental health facility. Every such patient or resident of said facility shall have in addition to any other rights provided by law the right to freedom of choice in his selection of a facility or a physician or health service mode except in the case of emergency medical treatment or as otherwise provided for by contract or except in the case of a patient or resident of a facility named in section fourteen a of chapter nineteen.
There has to be a hearing within 5 business days. 0 found this answer helpful. Section 12 a allows for an individual to be brought against his or her will to such a hospital for evaluation.
Please note that for the first form listed below massachusetts general laws chapter 123 section 12 a provides that an application for temporary involuntary hospitalization aa 5 form side 1 can only be completed and signed by a massachusetts licensed physician licensed psychologist licensed and certified psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialist licensed independent clinical social worker or police officer. If he s still hospitalized either he signed some sort of voluntary commitment or a petition under section 7 was filed with the court based on him being a dangerous person. 12cc provision of medical records to patient or representative 12ff immunity of a person administering naloxone mgl c 233 79l statements or conduct expressing regret apology condolence by health care provider.