2013 New Jersey Revised Statutes
Title 30 - INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES
Section 30:4-27.11d - Rights of patient in short-term care facility

30:4-27.11d. Rights of patient in short-term care facility
4. a. A patient in a short-term care facility shall have the following rights, which shall not be denied under any circumstances. A list of these rights shall be posted in a conspicuous place in each room designated for use by a patient and otherwise brought to the patient's attention pursuant to subsection d. of this section:

(1) To be free from unnecessary or excessive medication. Medication shall not be administered unless at the written or verbal order of a physician. A verbal order shall be valid only for a period of 24 hours, after which a written order for the medication shall be completed. At least weekly, the attending physician shall review the drug regimen of each patient under his care. Medication shall be administered in accordance with generally accepted medical standards as part of a treatment program. Medication shall not be used as punishment, for the convenience of staff, as a substitute for a treatment program, or in quantities that interfere with the patient's treatment program.

In an emergency in which less restrictive or appropriate alternatives acceptable to the patient are not available to prevent imminent danger to the patient or others, medication may be administered over a patient's objection at the written order of a physician, which shall be valid for a period of up to 72 hours, in order to lessen the danger.

A patient's right to refuse medication when imminent danger to the patient or others is not present may be overridden by a written policy which has been adopted by the short-term care facility to protect the patient's right to exercise informed consent to the administration of medication. The written policy shall, at a minimum, provide for appropriate procedures that ensure notice to the patient of the decision by the attending physician or other designated physician to administer medication, the right to question the physician about his decision to administer medication and to provide information to the physician regarding that decision. The written policy shall also provide for review of the patient's decision to object to the administration of medication by a psychiatrist who is not directly involved in the patient's treatment. The psychiatrist shall not override the patient's decision to object to the administration of medication unless the psychiatrist determines that: the patient is incapable, without medication, of participating in a treatment plan that will provide a realistic opportunity of improving his condition; or, although it is possible to devise a treatment plan that will provide a realistic opportunity of improving the patient's condition without medication, a treatment plan which includes medication would probably improve the patient's condition within a significantly shorter time period, or there is a significant possibility that, without medication, the patient will harm himself or others before improvement of his condition is realized.

An adult who has been voluntarily committed to a short-term care facility shall have the right to refuse medication.

(2) Not to be subjected to psychosurgery or sterilization, without the express and informed, written consent of the patient after consultation with counsel or interested party of the patient's choice. A copy of the patient's consent shall be placed in the patient's treatment record. If the patient has been adjudicated incompetent, a court of competent jurisdiction shall hold a hearing to determine the necessity of the procedure. The patient shall be physically present at the hearing, represented by counsel, and provided the right and opportunity to be confronted with and to cross-examine all witnesses alleging the necessity of the procedure. In these proceedings, the burden of proof shall be on the party alleging the necessity of the procedure. In the event that a patient cannot afford counsel, the court shall appoint an attorney not less than 10 days before the hearing. An attorney so appointed shall be entitled to a reasonable fee to be determined by the court and paid by the State.

(3) To be free from unnecessary physical restraint and seclusion. Except for an emergency in which a patient has caused substantial property damage or has attempted to harm himself or others, or in which his behavior threatens to harm himself or others, and in which less restrictive means of restraint are not feasible, a patient may be physically restrained or placed in seclusion only on an attending physician's written order or that of another designated physician which explains the rationale for that action. The written order may be given only after the attending physician or other designated physician has personally seen the patient, and evaluated the episode or situation that is said to require restraint or seclusion.

In an emergency, the use of restraints or seclusion may be initiated by a registered professional nurse and shall be for no more than one hour. Within that hour, the nurse shall consult with the attending physician or other designated physician and, if continued restraint or seclusion is determined to be necessary, shall obtain an order from the attending physician or other designated physician to continue the use of restraints or seclusion. If an order is given, the patient shall be reevaluated by the nurse or the attending physician or other designated physician as to the patient's physical and psychiatric condition and the need for continuing the restraints or seclusion at least every two hours until the use of restraints or seclusion has ended.

The patient's attending physician or other designated physician shall enter a written order approving the continued use of restraints or seclusion no later than 24 hours after the time that physical restraint or seclusion began, and only after the physician has personally seen the patient. A written order by the physician for the continued use of restraints or seclusion shall be effective for no more than 24 hours and shall be renewed if restraint and seclusion are continued. A medical examination of the patient shall be conducted every 12 hours by a physician.

While a patient is in restraints or seclusion, nursing personnel shall check the patient's hygienic, toileting, food-related and other needs every 15 minutes. A notation of these checks shall be placed in the patient's medical record along with the order for restraints or seclusion. A patient in restraints shall be permitted to ambulate every four hours, except when the patient's psychiatric condition would make a release from restraints dangerous to himself or others, and shall be permitted to ambulate at least once every 12 hours regardless of the patient's psychiatric condition.

(4) To be free from any form of punishment.



(5) Not to receive electroconvulsive treatment or participate in experimental research without the express and informed, written consent of the patient. The patient shall have the right to consult with counsel or interested party of the patient's choice. A copy of the patient's consent shall be placed in the patient's treatment record. If the patient has been adjudicated incompetent, a court of competent jurisdiction shall hold a hearing to determine the necessity of the procedure. The patient shall be physically present at the hearing, represented by counsel, and provided the right and opportunity to be confronted with and to cross-examine all witnesses alleging the necessity of the procedure. In these proceedings, the burden of proof shall be on the party alleging the necessity of the procedure. In the event that a patient cannot afford counsel, the court shall appoint an attorney not less than 10 days before the hearing. An attorney so appointed shall be entitled to a reasonable fee to be determined by the court and paid by the State.

b. A patient receiving treatment in a short-term care facility shall have the following rights, which may only be denied pursuant to subsection c. of this section. A list of these rights shall be posted in a conspicuous place in each room designated for use by a patient and otherwise brought to the patient's attention pursuant to subsection d. of this section:

(1) To privacy and dignity.



(2) To the least restrictive conditions necessary to achieve the purposes of treatment.

(3) To wear his own clothes; to have access to and use his nondangerous personal possessions including his toilet articles; and to have access to and be allowed to spend a reasonable sum of his own money for expenses and small purchases.

(4) To have access to individual storage space for his private use.



(5) To see visitors each day.



(6) To have reasonable access to and use of telephones, both to make and receive confidential calls.

(7) To have ready access to letter writing materials, including stamps, and to mail and receive unopened correspondence.

(8) To regular physical exercise or organized physical activities several times a week.

(9) To be outdoors at regular and frequent intervals, in the absence of medical considerations, commencing two weeks after admission, except where the physical location of the short-term care facility precludes outdoor exercise or would render the supervision of outdoor exercise too onerous for the facility.

(10) To suitable opportunities for interaction with members of the opposite sex, with adequate supervision.

(11) To practice the religion of his choice or abstain from religious practices. Provisions for worship shall be made available to each patient on a nondiscriminatory basis.

(12) To receive prompt and adequate medical treatment for any physical ailment.

(13) To be provided with a reasonable explanation, in terms and language appropriate to the patient's condition and ability to understand, of:

(a) the patient's general mental and physical condition;



(b) the objectives of the patient's treatment;



(c) the nature and significant possible adverse effects of recommended treatments;

(d) the reasons why a particular treatment is considered appropriate; and



(e) the reasons for the denial of any of the patient's rights pursuant to subsection c. of this section.

c. (1) A patient's rights designated under subsection b. of this section may be denied only for good cause when the attending physician feels it is imperative to deny any of these rights; except that, under no circumstances shall a patient's right to communicate with his attorney, physician or the courts be restricted. The denial of a patient's rights shall take effect only after a copy of the written notice of the denial has been filed in the patient's treatment record and shall include an explanation of the reason for the denial.

(2) A denial of rights shall be effective for a period not to exceed 10 days and shall be renewed for additional 10-day periods only by a written statement entered by the attending physician or other designated physician in the patient's treatment record which indicates the detailed reason for the renewal of the denial.

(3) In each instance of a denial or a renewal, the patient, his attorney, and his guardian, if the patient has been adjudicated incompetent, shall be given written notice of the denial or renewal and the reason therefor.

d. A notice of the rights set forth in this section shall be given to a patient in a short-term care facility upon admission. The notice shall be in writing and in simple understandable language. It shall be in a language the patient understands and if the patient cannot read, it shall be read to him. In the case of an adjudicated incompetent patient, this procedure shall be followed for the patient's guardian. Receipt of this notice shall be acknowledged in writing with a copy placed in the patient's file. If the patient or guardian refuses to acknowledge receipt of the notice, the person delivering the notice shall state this in writing with a copy placed in the patient's file.

L.1991,c.233,s.4.