True Facts About Baker Act Rights

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 all the details in a careful manner because all such is extremely important information. If you don't understand something then ask about it so that there are no doubts left in your mind. After reading all the paperwork you will be asked to sign a form confirming that you are submitting yourself voluntarily and the authorities are allowed to do checks on your mental ability.

You can demand the hospital to let you know about your treatment plan because as a patient under this particular Act you have the right to be informed. The hospital should make you aware of the risk factors involved as well as about any alternative treatments if available.

On the off chance that the patient is analyzed to have an emotional well-being ailment then its in all likelihood that he will be given pharmaceuticals. A portion of the solutions have certain symptoms and you have the privilege to think about them. In specific conditions the patient is permitted to go home inside 24 hours while in some cases, you may not be permitted to go home and would need to remain back for further checks.

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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