ORS 441.053: Release of patient presenting with behavioral health crisis.

(1) As used in this section:

      (a) “Behavioral health crisis” means a disruption in an individual’s mental or emotional stability or functioning resulting in an urgent need for immediate treatment to prevent a serious deterioration in the individual’s mental or physical health.

      (b) “Lethal means counseling” means counseling strategies designed to reduce the access by a patient who is at risk for suicide to lethal means, including but not limited to firearms.

      (c) “Suicide prevention measures” may include, but are not limited to:

      (A) Lethal means counseling; and

      (B) Providing information about a suicide intervention hotline.

      (2) A hospital with an emergency department shall adopt and implement policies for the release from the hospital’s emergency department of a patient presenting with a behavioral health crisis including suicide prevention measures, if any, that must be taken. At a minimum, the policies must meet the requirements in ORS 441.054 for hospital policies regarding the discharge of a patient who is admitted for mental health treatment.