Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 71.05 - Behavioral Health Disorders.
71.05.120 - Exemptions from liability.

RCW 71.05.120
Exemptions from liability.

(1) No officer of a public or private agency, nor the superintendent, professional person in charge, his or her professional designee, or attending staff of any such agency, nor any public official performing functions necessary to the administration of this chapter, nor peace officer responsible for detaining a person pursuant to this chapter, nor any designated crisis responder, nor the state, a unit of local government, an evaluation and treatment facility, a secure withdrawal management and stabilization facility, or an approved substance use disorder treatment program shall be civilly or criminally liable for performing duties pursuant to this chapter with regard to the decision of whether to admit, discharge, release, administer antipsychotic medications, or detain a person for evaluation and treatment: PROVIDED, That such duties were performed in good faith and without gross negligence.
(2) Peace officers and their employing agencies are not liable for the referral of a person, or the failure to refer a person, to a behavioral health agency pursuant to a policy adopted pursuant to RCW 71.05.457 if such action or inaction is taken in good faith and without gross negligence.
(3) This section does not relieve a person from giving the required notices under RCW 71.05.330(2) or 71.05.340(1)(b), or the duty to warn or to take reasonable precautions to provide protection from violent behavior where the patient has communicated an actual threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable victim or victims. The duty to warn or to take reasonable precautions to provide protection from violent behavior is discharged if reasonable efforts are made to communicate the threat to the victim or victims and to law enforcement personnel.

[ 2020 c 302 § 11; 2019 c 446 § 22. Prior: 2016 sp.s. c 29 § 208; 2016 c 158 § 4; 2000 c 94 § 4; 1991 c 105 § 2; 1989 c 120 § 3; 1987 c 212 § 301; 1979 ex.s. c 215 § 7; 1974 ex.s. c 145 § 7; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 24 § 5; 1973 1st ex.s. c 142 § 17.]
NOTES:

Effective dates—2016 sp.s. c 29: See note following RCW 71.05.760.


Short title—Right of action—2016 sp.s. c 29: See notes following RCW 71.05.010.


Finding—Intent—2016 c 158: See note following RCW 71.05.455.


Severability—1991 c 105: See note following RCW 71.05.215.

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