Connecticut Senate Bill SB00332

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/19/17
• Refer: 1/19/17

Caption

An Act Concerning Confinement Of Drug Overdose Victims In A Hospital For Psychiatric Disabilities.

Impact

The passage of SB00332 could significantly influence state laws related to mental health and emergency response protocols for drug overdose victims. By explicitly allowing accidental drug overdoses to inform psychiatric evaluations, the bill appears to aim at providing better protection for individuals in crisis. It creates a more responsive framework for medical professionals, enabling them to take proactive measures in addressing overdose situations without the immediate concern of legal jeopardy concerning patient rights or autonomy.

Summary

SB00332 aims to amend existing legislation regarding psychiatric disability and emergency confinement in hospitals. The primary focus of the bill is to include accidental drug overdose as a valid consideration for physicians when determining whether a patient presents a psychiatric disability that poses a danger to themselves. This change allows for individuals experiencing drug overdoses to be held in a hospital for psychiatric disabilities under an emergency certificate, recognizing the critical nature of their condition.

Contention

However, the bill may also bring to light potential controversies regarding patient rights and the limits of medical authority. Critics might argue that broadening the criteria for psychiatric disability could result in misuse of confinement protocols, potentially leading to unnecessary detentions of individuals who may require different types of intervention. There could be concerns about the implications for patients' civil liberties, with debates centered around how the language of the bill might be interpreted and the standards of care that healthcare providers are expected to follow.