N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.11a — Findings, declarations.

30:4-27.11a Findings, declarations. 1. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. It is of paramount public interest to ensure the rights of all patients in inpatient psychiatric facilities, including those persons being assessed or receiving treatment on an involuntary basis in screening services and short-term care facilities as defined in section 2 of P.L.1987, c.116 (C.30:4-27.2); b. The rights set forth in section 10 of P.L.1965, c.59 (C.30:4-24.2) apply to any person who has been involuntarily committed to a State or county psychiatric hospital, a psychiatric unit of a county hospital, or a special psychiatric hospital in accordance with the laws of this State; c. Because involuntary assessment and treatment in a screening service and involuntary commitment to a short-term care facility involve the deprivation of a patient's liberty, it is necessary to specify and guarantee by statute the rights to which that patient is entitled, in a manner similar to that provided for a patient who is involuntarily committed to a State or county psychiatric hospital, a psychiatric unit of a county hospital, or a special psychiatric hospital, while recognizing the administrative, structural, and staffing features of screening services and short-term care facilities which are different from State or county psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric units of county hospitals, or special psychiatric hospitals, as well as recognizing differences between the administrative, structural, and staffing features of screening services and short-term care facilities by providing a separate guarantee of rights for patients in each of these settings; and d. All patients who are receiving assessment or treatment on an involuntary basis in screening services and short-term care facilities, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1987, c.116 (C.30:4-27.2), are entitled to receive professional treatment of the highest standard and, unless the patient is mentally incapacitated, to participate in their treatment and discharge planning to the fullest extent possible. L.1991, c.233, s.1; amended 2013, c.103, s.81. 30:4-27.11b. Definitions 2. As used in this act: "Patient" means a person 18 years of age and older who is being involuntarily assessed or treated in a screening service or who has been involuntarily committed to a short-term care facility in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1987, c.116 (C.30:4-27.1 et seq.). "Screening service" means a "screening service" as defined in section 2 of P.L.1987, c.116 (C.30:4-27.2), and includes psychiatric emergency services which are funded by the Division of Mental Health and Hospitals in the Department of Human Services and are affiliated with a screening service. "Short-term care facility" means a "short-term care facility" as defined in section 2 of P.L.1987, c.116 (C.30:4-27.2). L.1991,c.233,s.2.

This is the verbatim text of N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.11a, retrieved from the New Jersey Legislature's public statute corpus. Statutes are amended periodically — for the most current version, check the external source link above. Kyzer is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.