1. Except in case of an emergency, the department shall not authorize or permit any major surgery to be performed upon or general anesthetic to be administered to any offender committed to the department unless specific written consent thereto shall first have been obtained from the offender or his parent or legal guardian if he is a minor, or, in the absence of such consent, from the court which vested legal custody of such offender in the department or the circuit court of the county where the offender is located.

2. Upon the recommendation of an attending physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, surgeon or dentist, the department may authorize medical, psychiatric, psychological, surgical or dental care and treatment, respectively, as may be required by the condition of the offender. If the care and treatment is contrary to the religious tenets and beliefs of such offender, the treatment of such offender may be authorized by the department only upon the specific written consent of the offender, or his parent or legal guardian if he is a minor, or, in the absence of such consent, upon the specific written order of the court which vested legal custody of the offender in the department or the circuit court of the county where the offender’s correctional center is located.

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Terms Used In Missouri Laws 217.420

  • Correctional center: any premises or institution where incarceration, evaluation, care, treatment, or rehabilitation is provided to persons who are under the department's authority. See Missouri Laws 217.010
  • Department: the department of corrections of the state of Missouri. See Missouri Laws 217.010
  • 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.
  • Guardian: if used in a section in a context relating to property rights or obligations, means conservator of the estate as defined in chapter 475. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Offender: a person under supervision or an inmate in the custody of the department. See Missouri Laws 217.010
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020

3. When the offender has been placed in a correctional center other than one administered by the department, the person or persons administering such facility shall have the authority to provide the offender with necessary medical, psychiatric, psychological, surgical or dental care only to the extent that such authority has been delegated to such persons with respect to particular offenders and subject to such limitations as may be prescribed by law.