{"data":{"id":"us-de/16-del.-c.-5641","jurisdiction":"us-de","citation":"16 Del. C. § 5641","heading":"Definitions [For application of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 461, § 12].","body":"As used in this subchapter:\n(1) “Abuse” means as defined in § 5631 of this title.\n(2) “Critical incident” means an actual or alleged event resulting in the abuse, death, exploitation, neglect, restrictive intervention, or serious injury of a client.\n(3) “Exploitation” means as defined in § 5631 of this title.\n(4) “Incident” means an actual or alleged event that causes or has the potential to cause harm to a client. The term includes critical incidents and any of the following events:\na. Elopement, including whenever a client leaves a provider organization’s facility despite an imminent threat to the client’s health, safety, or well-being. An elopement does not include events or situations involving a competent adult with decision-making capacity who leaves against medical advice or voluntarily leaves before receiving treatment.\nb. A health emergency in which a client receives emergency care not routinely provided by the client’s primary care practitioner, treating practitioners, provider organization, or a hospital admits the client.\nc. The client is involved in a crime or contacted by a law-enforcement agency.\nd. The client experiences an emergency at a facility where the client resides, including fire, flooding, severe property damage, unsafe conditions, or interruption of utilities lasting more than 8 hours.\n(5) “Neglect” means as defined in § 5631 of this title.\n(6) “Report” means a report required under § 5642 of this title.\n(7) “Restrictive intervention” means as defined in § 5631 of this title.\n(8) “Serious injury” means as defined in § 5631 of this title.","path":["Title 16. Health and Safety","Part V. Mental Health","Chapter 56. Behavioral Health [For application of this chapter, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 461, § 12]","Subchapter V. Incidents; Reports; Investigations [For application of this subchapter, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 461, § 12]"],"source_url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title16/title16.pdf","current_through":"2026-10-01 (85 Del. Laws, c. 550)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-10-21T05:49:39Z","sha256":"d6f7150c854de4bf3339036e770aa1adf4921ecbc7bcc30267a091b7fca58d9f","source_id":"us-de","stale":false,"prev":"us-de/16-del.-c.-5637","next":"us-de/16-del.-c.-5642"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}