California · Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC

WIC §5173: (a) Notwithstanding Section 5113, if the provisions of Section 5170.

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for medical professionals and peace officers who release individuals after 72-hour psychiatric evaluation and treatment under specified conditions.

Read the full statutory text

(a) Notwithstanding Section 5113, if the provisions of Section 5170.7 or 5172 have been met, the professional person in charge of the facility providing 72-hour treatment and evaluation, the medical director of the facility or his or her designee described in Sections 5170.7 and 5172, and the psychiatrist directly responsible for the person’s treatment shall not be held civilly or criminally liable for any action by a person released before the end of 72 hours pursuant to this article. (b) The professional person in charge of the facility providing 72-hour treatment and evaluation, the medical director of the facility or his or her designee described in Sections 5170.7 and 5172, and the psychiatrist directly responsible for the person’s treatment shall not be held civilly or criminally liable for any action by a person released at the end of the 72 hours pursuant to this article. (c) The peace officer responsible for the detainment of the person shall not be civilly or criminally liable for any action by a person released at or before the end of the 72 hours pursuant to this article.

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