California Welfare and Institutions Code

§ 4146

WIC § 4146 Effective Jan 1, 2017Div. 4 · Part 2 · Ch. 1

Statute text

(a)This section applies in cases in which a patient has been committed to the department as a mentally disordered offender, including a person found not guilty by reason of insanity, or a person found incompetent to stand trial or be adjudged to punishment.

(b)(1) A physician employed by the department who determines that a patient meets the criteria set forth in subparagraph (A) or (C) of paragraph (5) shall notify the medical director and the patient advocate of the prognosis. If the medical director concurs with the diagnosis, he or she shall immediately notify the Director of State Hospitals. Within 72 hours of receiving notification, the medical director or the medical director’s designee shall notify the patient of the discharge procedures under this section and obtain the patient’s consent for discharge. The medical director or the medical director’s designee shall arrange for the patient to designate a family member or other outside agent to be notified as to the patient’s medical condition, prognosis, and release procedures under this section. If the patient is unable to designate a family member or other outside agent, the medical director or the medical director’s designee shall contact any emergency contact listed, or the patient advocate if no contact is listed.

(2)The medical director or the medical director’s designee shall provide the patient and his or her family member, agent, emergency contact, or patient advocate with updated information throughout the release process with regard to the patient’s medical condition and the status of the patient’s release proceedings, including the discharge plan. A patient shall not be released unless the discharge plan verifies placement for the patient upon release.

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Legislative history

Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 715, Sec. 4. (SB 955) Effective January 1, 2017.