Health facilities: psychiatric patient release.

Existing law allows for the detention, for a 72-hour evaluation, of any person who, as a result of a mental disorder, is a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or is gravely disabled, as defined. Existing law provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for specified licensed general acute care hospitals, licensed acute psychiatric hospitals, licensed professional staff at those hospitals, or any physician and surgeon providing emergency medical services in any department of those hospitals for the detention of a person who is subject to a 72-hour evaluation as provided above. Immunity is also provided, under specified circumstances, for the actions of a person after release who was detained up to 24 hours pursuant to their qualification for a 72-hour evaluation. This bill would extend the immunity from civil and criminal liability to the specified facilities and staff for the detention of any person who meets specified criteria, whether or not they qualify for a 72-hour evaluation, and for the actions after release of a person who was detained up to 24 hours and who meets specified criteria.