Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 72.23 · 40 active provisions
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Court" means the superior court of the state of Washington.(2) "Department" means the department of social and health services.(3) "Employee" means an employee as defined in RCW 49.17.020.(4) "Licensed phys…
There are hereby permanently located and established the following state hospitals: Western state hospital at Fort Steilacoom, Pierce county; eastern state hospital at Medical Lake, Spokane county; and the child study and treatment center at Fort Steilacoom, Pierce county.
(1) It is the intent of the legislature to improve the quality of service at state hospitals, eliminate overcrowding, and more specifically define the role of the state hospitals. The legislature intends that eastern and western state hospitals shall become clinical centers for handling the most complicated long-term c…
The secretary shall develop a system of more integrated service delivery, including incentives to discourage the inappropriate placement of persons with developmental disabilities, head injury, and substance abuse, at state mental hospitals and encourage their care in community settings. By December 1, 1992, the depart…
The superintendent of a state hospital subject to rules of the department, shall have control of the internal government and economy of a state hospital and shall appoint and direct all subordinate officers and employees. If the superintendent is not a psychiatrist, clinical care shall be under the direction of a quali…
In consultation with law enforcement personnel, the secretary shall have the power and duty to investigate the conviction record and the protection proceeding record information under chapter 43.43 RCW of each prospective employee of a state hospital.
The superintendent shall provide an official seal upon which shall be inscribed the statutory name of the hospital under his or her charge and the name of the state. He or she shall affix the seal of the hospital to any notice, order of discharge, or other paper required to be given by him or her or issued.
The superintendent shall not be required to attend any court as a witness in a civil or juvenile court proceedings, but parties desiring his or her testimony can take and use his or her deposition; nor shall he or she be required to attend as a witness in any criminal case, unless the court before which his or her test…
The superintendent is authorized to accept and receive from any person or organization gifts of money or personal property on behalf of the state hospital under his or her charge, or on behalf of the patients therein. The superintendent is authorized to use such money or personal property for the purposes specified by…
Any person received and detained in a state hospital under chapter 71.34 RCW is deemed a voluntary patient and, except as chapter 9.41 RCW may limit the right of a person to purchase or possess a firearm or to qualify for a concealed pistol license, shall not suffer a loss of legal competency by reason of his or her ap…
It shall be the policy of the department to permit liberal use of the foregoing sections for the admission of those cases that can be benefited by treatment and returned to normal life and mental condition, in the opinion of the superintendent, within a period of six months. No person shall be carried as a voluntary pa…
If it becomes necessary because of inadequate facilities or staff, the department may limit applicants for voluntary admission in accordance with such rules and regulations as it may establish. The department may refuse all applicants for voluntary admission where lack of adequate facilities or staff make such action n…
Payment of hospitalization charges shall not be a necessary requirement for voluntary admission: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, The department may request payment of hospitalization charges, or any portion thereof, from the patient or relatives of the patient within the following classifications: Spouse, parents, or children. Wher…
The department is directed to establish at each state hospital a procedure, including the necessary resources, to provide temporary residential observation and evaluation of persons who request treatment, unless admitted under *RCW 72.23.070. Temporary residential observation and evaluation under this section shall be…
It shall be the duty of the superintendent to ascertain by diligent inquiry and correspondence, the history of each and every patient admitted to his or her hospital.
If a patient shall escape from a state hospital the superintendent shall cause immediate search to be made for him or her and return him or her to said hospital wherever found. Notice of such escape shall be given to the committing court who may issue an order of apprehension and return directed to any peace officer wi…
Any person who procures the escape of any patient of any state hospital for the mentally ill, or institutions for psychopaths to which such patient has been lawfully committed, or who advises, connives at, aids, or assists in such escape or conceals any such escape, is guilty of a class C felony and shall be punished b…
(1) The following entities must each ensure that every consenting patient possesses a valid identicard, issued by the department of licensing under chapter 46.20 RCW, prior to the individual's release from care in the applicable facility:(a) State hospitals licensed under chapter 72.23 RCW;(b) The special commitment ce…
Whenever a patient dies, escapes, or is paroled or discharged from a state hospital, the superintendent shall immediately notify the clerk of the court which ordered such patient's hospitalization. A copy of such notice shall be given to the next of kin or next friend of such patient if their names or addresses are kno…
In the event of the sudden or mysterious death of any patient at a state hospital, not on parole or escape therefrom, such fact shall be reported by the superintendent thereof to the coroner of the county in which the death occurs.
No mentally ill person under the age of sixteen years shall be regularly confined in any ward in any state hospital which ward is designed and operated for the care of the mentally ill eighteen years of age or over. No person of the ages of sixteen and seventeen shall be placed in any such ward, when in the opinion of…
The department may designate one or more wards at one or more state hospitals as may be deemed necessary for the sole care and treatment of persons under eighteen years of age admitted thereto. Nurses and attendants for such ward or wards shall be selected for their special aptitude and sympathy with such young people,…
The superintendent of a state hospital shall be the custodian without compensation of such personal property of a patient involuntarily hospitalized therein as may come into the superintendent's possession while the patient is under the jurisdiction of the hospital. As such custodian, the superintendent shall have auth…
Upon receipt of a written request signed by the superintendent stating that a designated patient of such hospital is involuntarily hospitalized therein, and that no guardian of his or her estate has been appointed, any person, bank, firm, or corporation having possession of any money, bank accounts, or choses in action…
The superintendent shall also have authority to receive funds for the benefit of individual patients and may disburse such funds according to the instructions of the donor of such funds.