Understand Your Rights Under the Baker Act

How to Understand Your Rights Under the Baker Act

The methods and information contained in this video are for purposes of informational and educational material only.

How to Understand Your Rights Under the Baker Act
know when Baker acts someone, refuse to be Baker Acted, What happens after a 72-hour hold, What happens when someone is involuntarily committed

The Baker Act is the FloridaLaw in the state of Florida. It is named for Maxine Baker a state representative who worked to strengthen the rights of mental patients. 1 X Research source If you believe you need mental care you know someone who you believe needs to be committed for his or her own safety or youre on the opposite side and someone else is taking or has taken steps to have you committed there are certain rights that you have and certain procedures to follow. The Baker Act is designed to protect the patients rights and provide the necessary care. Present yourself to a local hospital or care facility. If you believe that you are suffering from some mental illness and require treatment you may voluntarily have yourself examined. This examination may lead to additional ongoing treatment as either an inpatient or an outpatient depending on your level of need.

Review your rights as a person on voluntary status. When you voluntarily report to the hospital you must receive a written explanation of your rights as a person on voluntary status. If you do not receive such a written statement ask for it. Read it over carefully and make sure that you understand it. If there are any details that you do not understand ask someone to explain them to you. By signing the Voluntary Admission form you are verifying that you are aware of your rights and that you consent.

Be aware that your voluntary admission could change to involuntary. It is possible that after you check in voluntarily a physician may determine that you need to be retained involuntarily. You need to realize this before appearing. If you request to be discharged from the hospital but a physician believes you should remain the hospital may hold you for up to 24 hours for further evaluation. If during that time someone files a petition in court for involuntary placement you may be held for up to two business days pending a hearing.

Sign the admission form as a competent adult. After you have received notice of your rights and have been warned of the potential for involuntary commitment you need to sign the Voluntary Admission form in the presence of a witness. Someone at the intake desk at the hospital will witness the form.The Baker Act involuntary examination criteria require that a person either “refuse” or be “unable to determine examination is necessary”
Once the 72-hour hold is lifted, patients can request a discharge or further care
Involuntary commitment, civil commitment, or involuntary hospitalization (also known informally as sectioning or being sectioned in some jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom) is a legal process through which an individual who is deemed by a qualified agent to have symptoms of severe mental disorder is detained in

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