* § 9.57 Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and

Terms Used In N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 9.57

  • Commissioner: means the head of the office of mental health. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 7.03
  • likely to result in serious harm: means (a) a substantial risk of physical harm to the person as manifested by threats of or attempts at suicide or serious bodily harm or other conduct demonstrating that the person is dangerous to himself or herself, or (b) a substantial risk of physical harm to other persons as manifested by homicidal or other violent behavior by which others are placed in reasonable fear of serious physical harm. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 9.01

treatment; powers of emergency room physicians.

A physician who has examined a person in an emergency room or provided emergency medical services at a general hospital, as defined in Article 28 of the public health law, which does not have an inpatient psychiatric service, or a physician who has examined a person in a comprehensive psychiatric emergency program shall be authorized to request that the director of the program or hospital, or the director's designee, direct the removal of such person to a hospital approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (a) of section 9.39 of this article or to a comprehensive psychiatric emergency program, if the physician determines upon examination of such person that such person appears to have a mental illness for which immediate care and treatment in a hospital is appropriate and which is likely to result in serious harm to himself or others. Upon the request of the physician, the director of the program or hospital or the director's designee, is authorized to direct peace officers, when acting pursuant to their special duties, or police officers, who are members of an authorized police department or force or of a sheriff's department to take into custody and transport any such person. Upon the request of an emergency room physician or the director of the program or hospital, or the director's designee, an ambulance service, as defined by subdivision two of § 3001 of the public health law, is authorized to take into custody and transport any such person. Such person may then be admitted to a hospital in accordance with the provisions of section 9.39 of this article or to a comprehensive psychiatric emergency program in accordance with the provisions of section 9.40 of this article.

* NB Effective until July 1, 2024 * § 9.57 Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and

treatment; powers of emergency room physicians.

A physician who has examined a person in an emergency room or provided emergency medical services at a general hospital, as defined in Article 28 of the public health law, which does not have an inpatient psychiatric service, shall be authorized to request that the director of the hospital, or his designee, direct the removal of such person to a hospital approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (a) of section 9.39 of this article, if the physician determines upon examination of such person that such person appears to have a mental illness for which immediate care and treatment in a hospital is appropriate and which is likely to result in serious harm to himself or others, as defined in section 9.39 of this article. Upon the request of the physician, the director of the hospital or his designee, is authorized to direct peace officers, when acting pursuant to their special duties, or police officers, who are members of an authorized police department or force or of a sheriff's department to take into custody and transport any such person. Upon the request of an emergency room physician or the director of the hospital, or his designee, an ambulance service, as defined by subdivision two of § 3001 of the public health law, is authorized to take into custody and transport any such person. Such person may then be admitted in accordance with the provisions of section 9.39 of this article.

* NB Effective July 1, 2024