2019 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 12 - Public Health
Chapter 441 - Health Care Facilities
Section 441.053 - Release of patient presenting with behavioral health crisis.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Behavioral health crisis" means a disruption in an individual’s mental or emotional stability or functioning resulting in an urgent need for immediate treatment to prevent a serious deterioration in the individual’s mental or physical health.
(b) "Lethal means counseling" means counseling strategies designed to reduce the access by a patient who is at risk for suicide to lethal means, including but not limited to firearms.
(c) "Suicide prevention measures" may include, but are not limited to:
(A) Lethal means counseling; and
(B) Providing information about a suicide intervention hotline.
(2) A hospital with an emergency department shall adopt and implement policies for the release from the hospital’s emergency department of a patient presenting with a behavioral health crisis including suicide prevention measures, if any, that must be taken. At a minimum, the policies must meet the requirements in ORS 441.054 for hospital policies regarding the discharge of a patient who is admitted for mental health treatment. [2017 c.272 §2]
Note: 441.053 was added to and made a part of 441.015 to 441.087 by legislative action but was not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
