New York Laws
Article 9 - Hospitalization of Persons With a Mental Illness
9.55 - Emergency Admissions for Immediate Observation, Care and Treatment; Powers of Qualified Psychiatrists.


treatment; powers of qualified psychiatrists.

A qualified psychiatrist shall have the power to direct the removal of
any person, whose treatment for a mental illness he or she is either
supervising or providing in a facility licensed or operated by the
office of mental health which does not have an inpatient psychiatric
service, to a hospital approved by the commissioner pursuant to
subdivision (a) of section 9.39 of this article or to a comprehensive
psychiatric emergency program, if he or she determines upon examination
of such person that such person appears to have a mental illness for
which immediate observation, care and treatment in a hospital is
appropriate and which is likely to result in serious harm to himself or
herself or others. Upon the request of such qualified psychiatrist,
peace officers, when acting pursuant to their special duties, or police
officers, who are members of an authorized police department or force or
of a sheriff's department shall take into custody and transport any such
person. Upon the request of a qualified psychiatrist an ambulance
service, as defined by subdivision two of section three thousand one of
the public health law, is authorized to transport any such person. Such
person may then be admitted to a hospital in accordance with the
provisions of section 9.39 of this article or to a comprehensive
psychiatric emergency program in accordance with the provisions of
section 9.40 of this article.

* NB Effective until July 1, 2024
* ยง 9.55 Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and

treatment; powers of qualified psychiatrists.

A qualified psychiatrist shall have the power to direct the removal of
any person, whose treatment for a mental illness he is either
supervising or providing in a facility licensed or operated by the
office of mental health which does not have an inpatient psychiatric
service, to a hospital approved by the commissioner pursuant to
subdivision (a) of section 9.39 of this article, if he determines upon
examination of such person that such person appears to have a mental
illness for which immediate observation, care and treatment in a
hospital is appropriate and which is likely to result in serious harm to
himself or others, as defined in section 9.39 of this article. Upon the
request of such qualified psychiatrist, peace officers, when acting
pursuant to their special duties, or police officers, who are members of
an authorized police department or force or of a sheriff's department
shall take into custody and transport any such person. Upon the request
of a qualified psychiatrist an ambulance service, as defined by
subdivision two of section three thousand one of the public health law,
is authorized to transport any such person. Such person may then be
admitted in accordance with the provisions of section 9.39 of this
article.

* NB Effective July 1, 2024

Structure New York Laws

New York Laws

MHY - Mental Hygiene

Title B - Mental Health Act

Article 9 - Hospitalization of Persons With a Mental Illness

9.01 - Definitions.

9.03 - Admission to a Hospital.

9.05 - Examining Physicians and Medical Certificates.

9.07 - Notice to All Patients of Their Rights and of the Availability of the Mental Hygiene Legal Service.

9.09 - Notices to Mental Hygiene Legal Service Concerning Minors.

9.11 - Patients' Records.

9.13 - Voluntary Admissions.

9.15 - Informal Admissions.

9.17 - Voluntary and Informal Admissions; Suitability.

9.19 - Voluntary and Informal Admissions; Notices.

9.21 - Voluntary and Informal Admissions; Encouragement Of.

9.23 - Voluntary and Informal Admissions; Conversion To.

9.25 - Voluntary and Informal Admissions; Review of Status.

9.27 - Involuntary Admission on Medical Certification.

9.29 - Involuntary Admission on Medical Certification; Notice of Admission to Patients and Others.

9.31 - Involuntary Admission on Medical Certification; Patient's Right to a Hearing.

9.33 - Court Authorization to Retain an Involuntary Patient.

9.35 - Review of Court Authorization to Retain an Involuntary Patient.

9.37 - Involuntary Admission on Certificate of a Director of Community Services or His Designee.

9.39 - Emergency Admissions for Immediate Observation, Care, and Treatment.

9.40 - Emergency Observation, Care and Treatment in Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs.

9.43 - Emergency Assessment for Immediate Observation, Care, and Treatment; Powers of Courts.

9.45 - Emergency Assessment for Immediate Observation, Care, and Treatment; Powers of Directors of Community Services.

9.46 - Reports of Substantial Risk or Threat of Harm by Mental Health Professionals.

9.47 - Duties of Local Officers in Regard to Their Persons With a Mental Illness.

9.48 - Duties of Directors of Assisted Outpatient Treatment Programs.

9.57 - Emergency Admissions for Immediate Observation, Care and Treatment; Powers of Emergency Room Physicians.

9.58 - Transport for Evaluation; Powers of Approved Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams.

9.59 - Immunity From Liability.

9.60 - Assisted Outpatient Treatment.

9.41 - Emergency Assessment for Immediate Observation, Care, and Treatment; Powers of Certain Peace Officers and Police Officers.

9.49 - Transfer of Juvenile Delinquents.

9.51 - Residential Treatment Facilities for Children and Youth; Admissions.

9.53 - Children in the Custody of Social Services Officials or the Division for Youth.

9.55 - Emergency Admissions for Immediate Observation, Care and Treatment; Powers of Qualified Psychiatrists.

9.63 - Transportation of Persons to or Between Hospitals.