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A bill to be entitled |
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An act relating to the Baker Act; amending s. 394.463, |
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F.S.; providing that a patient received in an emergency |
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department may be examined by an attending emergency |
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department physician rather than by a psychiatrist or |
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clinical psychologist; providing an effective date. |
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
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Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subsection (2) of section |
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394.463, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
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394.463 Involuntary examination.-- |
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(2) INVOLUNTARY EXAMINATION.-- |
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(f) A patient shall be examined by a physician or clinical |
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psychologist at a receiving facility without unnecessary delay |
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and may, upon the order of a physician, be given emergency |
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treatment if it is determined that such treatment is necessary |
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for the safety of the patient or others. The patient shall not |
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be released by the receiving facility or its contractor without |
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the documented approval of a psychiatrist,orclinical |
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psychologist, or, where the receiving facility is a hospital |
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emergency department, attending emergency department physician. |
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However, a patient may not be held in a receiving facility for |
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involuntary examination longer than 72 hours. |
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Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |