Reply to Let’s hope DC and the suburban jurisdictions (MoCo, et al) follow NYC’s lead: safer for all

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Reply to "Let’s hope DC and the suburban jurisdictions (MoCo, et al) follow NYC’s lead: safer for all"

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[quote=Anonymous]Still trying to understand what this means over an FD-12. DC MPD brings people to the hospital all the time under FD-12 (involuntary psychiatric hospitalization), and the hospital cannot legally discharge them (or anyone) until they are deemed safe. So this means that each admitted case gets a psychiatric consult as well as a case worker. I suppose this would set criteria to keep them there longer, but is it just postponing the inevitable?

In addition, the city would have to then find a way to increase funds to hospitals to create entire units and add and staff beds. We're talking millions of dollars here. People already wait in the ER with nonpsychiatric conditions for over 24 hours just to get admitted up to a room. Waiting in the ER often means sitting on a stretcher in a chaotic hallway with other patients and overstretched, understaffed hospital staff.

Here is some DC language that already exists for FD-12s:

"C. Voluntary and Non-voluntary Transport to Comprehensive Psychiatric 
Emergency Program (CPEP)
1. If a member believes an interaction with a mental health consumer 
has escalated to the point where death or serious bodily injury is 
imminent, the member shall:
a. Take appropriate police action.
b. Contact an official for barricade/hostage situations where 
Emergency Response Team response may be appropriate.
2. In all other cases, a member who reasonably believes that an adult 
individual is mentally ill and poses a danger or threat of danger to 
himself or herself or others, shall transport the individual without 
delay to the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program 
(CPEP) located in Building 14 on the grounds of the former DC 
General Hospital.
3. All adults being transported to CPEP for mental observation in a 
Department vehicle shall be field searched by the member and 
handcuffed prior to being placed in a vehicle. 
a. Weapons, or other items which could be used to inflict injury, 
shall be removed and properly recorded on the property 
book at the assigned organization element of the 
transporting member. 
b. All other personal property of the person being transported 
shall accompany the person and turned over to CPEP staff.
4. If an adult who shows no signs of being a danger to himself or 
herself or others voluntarily agrees to go to CPEP:
a. An adult family member should first arrange transportation. If 
the family member can not arrange transportation, the 
transportation can be by a Department vehicle. If the 
individual is injured, transportation should be by ambulance
to the closest appropriate hospital. Members may determine 
INTERACTING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS (GO-OPS-308.04) 6 of 15
whether handcuffs and other restraining devices are 
appropriate in the event that they ride in the ambulance.
b. Prepare a field report with the classification “Sick Person to 
the Hospital”. 
5. If the adult does not voluntarily agree to go to CPEP, the member 
shall:
a. Transport the adult mental health consumer, using handcuffs
and, if necessary, additional restraining devices, to CPEP on 
the grounds of the former DC General Hospital, Building 14. 
b. If the suspected mental health consumer is violent, but not 
under arrest, request a transport wagon with two members 
to assist in transporting the individual.
c. Execute a Form FD-12 outlining the circumstances for the 
detention and provide this form to the staff of the facility.
(1) The information entered on the Form FD-12 shall
describe the specific behaviors or statements of the 
mental health consumer which led the member 
initiating the emergency hospitalization to believe that 
the person was in imminent danger of harming 
himself or herself or others.
(2) Members may consult with the staff at CPEP for 
assistance with completing the Form FD-12.
(3) Members initiating an FD-12 shall be responsible for 
transporting the mental health consumer’s property.
(a) In the event that the mental health consumer’s
property would be classified as an 
encampment, the member shall contact the 
Office of Neighborhood Engagement through 
the Mayor’s Command Center to handle the 
property. 
(b) In all cases, when a FD-12 is initiated by 
another agency, the initiating agency will be 
responsible for transporting the property. In 
the event that the agency member does not 
have access to a vehicle, the MPD member 
shall transport the agency member who will 
maintain responsibility for the property.
INTERACTING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS (GO-OPS-308.04) 7 of 15
d. Prepare a field report with the classification “Sick Person to 
the Hospital”. 
e. Upon obtaining a Central Complaint Number (CCN) for the 
field report, provide the Teletype Unit with the name of the 
mental health consumer"[/quote]

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