Sec. 498h.

(1) Except as provided in section 1074 and section 18s of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.18s, a minor's parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis may request emergency admission of the minor to a hospital, if the person making the request has reason to believe that the minor is a minor requiring treatment and that the minor presents a serious danger to self or others.

(2) If the hospital to which the request for emergency admission is made is not under contract to the community mental health services program, the request for emergency hospitalization shall be made directly to the hospital. If the hospital director agrees that the minor needs emergency admission, the minor shall be hospitalized. If the hospital director does not agree, the person making the request may request hospitalization of the minor under section 498d.

(3) If the hospital to which the request for emergency admission is made is under contract to the community mental health services program, the request shall be made to the preadmission screening unit of the community mental health services program serving in the county where the minor resides. If the community mental health services program has a children's diagnostic and treatment service, the preadmission screening unit shall refer the person making the request to that service. In counties where there is no children's diagnostic and treatment service, the preadmission screening unit shall refer the person making the request to the appropriate hospital. If it is determined that emergency admission is not necessary, the person may request hospitalization of the minor under section 498d. If it is determined that emergency admission is necessary, the minor shall be hospitalized or placed in an appropriate alternative program.

(4) If a minor is assessed by the preadmission screening unit and found not to be clinically suitable for hospitalization, the preadmission screening unit shall inform the individual or individuals requesting hospitalization of the minor of appropriate available alternative services to which a referral should be made and of the process for a request of a second opinion under subsection (5).

(5) If the preadmission screening unit of the community mental health services program denies hospitalization, a minor's parent or guardian may request a second opinion from the executive director. The executive director shall arrange for an additional evaluation by a psychiatrist, other physician, or licensed psychologist to be performed within 3 days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, after the executive director receives the request. If the conclusion of the second opinion is different from the conclusion of the preadmission screening unit, the executive director, in conjunction with the medical director, shall make a decision based on all clinical information available. The executive director's decision shall be confirmed in writing to the individual who requested the second opinion, and the confirming document shall include the signatures of the executive director and medical director or verification that the decision was made in conjunction with the medical director.

(6) If a person in loco parentis makes a request for emergency admission and the minor is admitted to a hospital under this section, the hospital director or the executive director of the community mental health services program immediately shall notify the minor's parent or parents or guardian.

(7) If a minor is hospitalized in a hospital that is operated under contract with a community mental health services program, the hospital director shall notify the appropriate executive director within 24 hours after the hospitalization occurs.

(8) If a peace officer, as a result of personal observation, has reasonable grounds to believe that a minor is a minor requiring treatment and that the minor presents a serious danger to self or others and if after a reasonable effort to locate the minor's parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis, the minor's parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis cannot be located, the peace officer may take the minor into protective custody and transport the minor to the appropriate community mental health preadmission screening unit, if the community mental health services program has a children's diagnostic and treatment service, or to a hospital if it does not have a children's diagnostic and treatment service. After transporting the minor, the peace officer shall execute a written request for emergency hospitalization of the minor stating the reasons, based upon personal observation, that the peace officer believes that emergency hospitalization is necessary. The written request shall include a statement that a reasonable effort was made by the peace officer to locate the minor's parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis. If it is determined that emergency hospitalization of the minor is not necessary, the minor shall be returned to his or her parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis if an additional attempt to locate the parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis is successful. If the minor's parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis cannot be located, the minor shall be turned over to the protective services program of the family independence agency. If it is determined that emergency admission of the minor is necessary, the minor shall be admitted to the appropriate hospital or to an appropriate alternative program. The executive director immediately shall notify the minor's parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis. If the hospital is under contract with the community mental health services program, the hospital director shall notify the appropriate executive director within 24 hours after the hospitalization occurs.

(9) An evaluation of a minor admitted to a hospital under this section shall begin immediately after the minor is admitted. The evaluation shall be conducted in the same manner as provided in section 498e. If the minor is not found to be suitable for hospitalization, the minor shall be released into the custody of his or her parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis, and the minor shall be referred to the executive director who shall determine if the minor needs mental health services. If it is determined that the minor needs mental health services, the executive director shall offer an appropriate treatment program for the minor, if the program is available, or refer the minor to another agency for services.

(10) A hospital director shall proceed under either the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.1101 to 700.8206, or chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.1 to 712A.32, as warranted by the situation and the best interests of the minor, under any of the following circumstances:

(a) The hospital director cannot locate a parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis of a minor admitted to a hospital under subsection (8).

(b) The hospital director cannot locate the parent or guardian of a minor admitted to a hospital by a person in loco parentis under this section.

History: Add. 1984, Act 186, Imd. Eff. July 3, 1984 ;-- Am. 1995, Act 290, Eff. Mar. 28, 1996 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 588, Imd. Eff. Jan. 21, 1997 ;-- Am. 2000, Act 57, Eff. Apr. 1, 2000 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 540, Eff. Mar. 28, 2013