N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 9.55 – Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment; powers of qualified psychiatrists
* § 9.55 Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and
Terms Used In N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 9.55
- 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
- Office: means the office of mental health. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 7.03
- qualified psychiatrist: means a physician licensed to practice medicine in New York state who: (a) is a diplomate of the American board of psychiatry and neurology or is eligible to be certified by that board; or (b) is certified by the American osteopathic board of neurology and psychiatry or is eligible to be certified by that board. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 9.01
treatment; powers of qualified psychiatrists.
A qualified psychiatrist shall have the power to direct the removal of any person, whose treatment for a mental illness he or she is either supervising or providing in a facility licensed or operated by the office of mental health which does not have an inpatient psychiatric service, 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 he or she determines upon examination of such person that such person appears to have a mental illness for which immediate observation, care and treatment in a hospital is appropriate and which is likely to result in serious harm to himself or herself or others. Upon the request of such qualified psychiatrist, 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 shall take into custody and transport any such person. Upon the request of a qualified psychiatrist an ambulance service, as defined by subdivision two of § 3001 of the public health law, is authorized to 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 * § 9.55 Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and
treatment; powers of qualified psychiatrists.
A qualified psychiatrist shall have the power to direct the removal of any person, whose treatment for a mental illness he is either supervising or providing in a facility licensed or operated by the office of mental health which does not have an inpatient psychiatric service, to a hospital approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (a) of section 9.39 of this article, if he determines upon examination of such person that such person appears to have a mental illness for which immediate observation, 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 such qualified psychiatrist, 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 shall take into custody and transport any such person. Upon the request of a qualified psychiatrist an ambulance service, as defined by subdivision two of § 3001 of the public health law, is authorized to 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