Baker Act Rights Know Your Legal Limitations

By Helen Baker


If you are on a voluntary status under Baker Act then you have every mean to know your rights. Baker Act rights enable you to know where you stand and what sort of actions you can take if the authorities decide to put you on involuntary status.

Its okay to be concerned about the welfare of your loved one but Baker Act should be used only when you have exhausted all other resources. When you get involved into this Act, it becomes a legal matter. If you know that your loved one is suffering from a mental illness but their condition is stable and does not require immediate attention then its best to look out for other options rather than jumping onto this particular Act.

Some individuals voluntarily allow the authorities to assess their mental health and for that reason they report to the hospital as directed. Being on such status means you should be provided with a written evidence regarding what your rights are. If for some reason you don't get anything in written then you can ask the authorities and demand them to let you know about your rights.

Read through everything very carefully so that you don't miss out any vital information whatsoever. If something is still bothering you or if you don't understand some points, then ask someone responsible to explain it to you. You will be required to sign a form that suggests you are voluntarily allowing authorities to assess your mental capabilities.

You can request the healing center to tell you about your treatment arrange in light of the fact that as a patient under this specific Act you have the privilege to be educated. The clinic ought to make you mindful of the hazard variables required and in addition about any option medications if accessible.

In severe cases the patient is given medications as well in order to subside their illness. Some of them may have certain side effects so you should have information about it. Usually if everything goes smoothly then the patient is allowed to go home within a few hours time. Whereas if there are any further checks to be made then the authorities might detain you for a little longer.

If you have been admitted to the medical facility, you have the right to make phone calls and meet your visitors. There will be fixed timings to do so but no one can deprive you from your rights. The medical staff will let you know when you can make phones calls but they need to be short and quick. Also, you cannot use your personal phone as it will be taken from you when you get admitted to the facility. That is done to ensure your own safety.

Sometimes, even when you submitted yourself voluntarily, it could turn into an involuntary status if the hospital thinks you have to be kept for a little bit longer than you wanted to. If you believe that you were wrongfully detained and you don't suffer from any mental health issues, then you could file a case against them but for that you would need to hire a legal adviser who could guide you in this regards.




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