South Carolina Code 63-7-750. Doctor or hospital may detain child; civil immunity
(1) has reason to believe that the child has been abused or neglected;
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 63-7-750
- Child: means a person under the age of eighteen. See South Carolina Code 63-7-20
- Department: means the Department of Social Services. See South Carolina Code 63-7-20
- Parent: means biological parent, adoptive parents, step-parent, or person with legal custody. See South Carolina Code 63-1-40
- Physical custody: means the lawful, actual possession and control of a child. See South Carolina Code 63-7-20
(2) has made a report to a law enforcement agency and the department pursuant to § 63-7-310, stating the time the physician notified the agency or department that the child was being detained until a law enforcement officer could arrive to determine whether the officer should take emergency physical custody of the child pursuant to Subarticle 3; and
(3) has reason to believe that release of the child to the child’s parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker presents an imminent danger to the child’s life, health, or physical safety. A hospital must designate a qualified person or persons within the hospital who shall have sole authority to detain a child on behalf of the hospital.
(B) A physician or hospital that detains a child in good faith as provided in this section is immune from civil or criminal liability for detaining the child.