Terms Used In Louisiana Codes > Children's Code > Title XIV > Chapter 13 - Transfer of Patients Committed to the Department

• Caretaker: means any person legally obligated to provide or secure adequate care for a child, including a parent, tutor, guardian, legal custodian, foster home parent, or other person providing a residence for the child. See Louisiana Children's Code 1404
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Department: means the Louisiana Department of Health. See Louisiana Children's Code 1404
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Patient: means any person detained and taken care of as a person with mental illness or person suffering from substance abuse. See Louisiana Children's Code 1404
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• superintendent: means a person in charge of a treatment facility or his deputy. See Louisiana Children's Code 1404
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.