Bill Text: WV HB2032 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Encouraging and assisting persons diagnosed with schizophrenic reality disorder in designating a durable medical power of attorney
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-11 - To House Health and Human Resources [HB2032 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2012-HB2032-Introduced.html
H. B. 2032
(By Delegates Staggers, Moye and Manypenny)
[Introduced January 11, 2012
; referred to the
Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §27-7-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to notice to persons with schizophrenic reality disorder of benefits of designating a durable medical power of attorney.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §27-7-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 7. RELEASE, DISCHARGE AND READMISSION OF PATIENTS; ESCAPEES.
§27-7-1. Discharge.
(a) The chief medical officer of the mental health facility shall continually review the case of each individual who is an involuntary patient at the facility pursuant to article five of this chapter and shall as frequently as practicable, in any event at least once every three months, cause a complete psychiatric examination of each patient, and whenever it is determined that the conditions justifying involuntary hospitalization no longer exist or that the individual can no longer benefit from hospitalization, the chief medical officer shall discharge the patient, and forward a copy of the patient's discharge to the clerk of the circuit court or mental hygiene commissioner of the county in which the involuntary hospitalization was ordered and to the circuit court or mental hygiene commissioner of the county wherein the individual is a resident.
(b) The chief medical officer of the mental health facility, upon discharge of an individual diagnosed with schizophrenic reality disorder, shall offer the patient an opportunity at the appropriate time, when the patient is stable and on medication and is considered by the chief medical officer to be competent, assistance in identifying and designating an appropriate person to serve as durable medical power of attorney for the patient. The chief medical officer shall notify the person of the advantages of avoiding the involuntary commitment process by designating someone to have a durable medical power of attorney and provide information as needed to the person regarding obtaining assistance in executing the required documents.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to encourage and assist persons diagnosed with schizophrenic reality disorder in designating a durable medical power of attorney to assist the patient in avoiding future involuntary commitments when the person becomes unstable.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
