09-R172
2009 -- H 6010
Enacted 04/22/09
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A
SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO STUDY PSYCHIATRIC HOLDS IN HOSPITAL EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENTS
Introduced
By: Representatives Naughton, McNamara, M
Rice,
Date Introduced: March 24, 2009
WHEREAS, An individual who a physician believes is in need of
immediate care and
treatment and whose presence in the community would create an
imminent likelihood of serious
harm by reason of mental disability may be held for up to
seventy-two (72) hours for examination
and evaluation (“psychiatric hold”); and
WHEREAS, Due to the lack
of inpatient psychiatric beds in the State of
patients who are subject to psychiatric holds as a result of a
visit to an acute care hospital
emergency department must stay in the emergency department for
the duration of the psychiatric
hold; and
WHEREAS, It is medically inappropriate for psychiatric patients to be
held in an acute
care hospital and/or an emergency department rather than
be transferred to a psychiatric facility to
receive treatment for their illness; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That a special house commission be and the same is
hereby created
consisting of three (3) members: two (2) of whom shall be
appointed by the Speaker of the
House; and one of whom
shall be appointed by the House Minority Leader.
The
purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the
implications and consequences of psychiatric holds in hospital
emergency departments.
Forthwith
upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at
the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and
shall select a chairperson. Vacancies in said
commission shall be filled in like manner as the original
appointment.
The
membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
All
departments and agencies of the state, shall furnish such advice and
information,
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as
is deemed necessary or
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this
resolution.
The
Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable
quarters
for said commission; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the commission shall report is findings and
recommendations to the
House of Representatives no
later than January 5, 2010, and said commission shall expire on
March 5, 2010.
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LC02270
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