Vernick Jon S, Gakh Maxim, Rutkow Lainie
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Am J Disaster Med. 2012 Fall;7(4):295-302. doi: 10.5055/ajdm.2012.0102.
Public health emergencies (disasters) are associated with mental health conditions ranging from mild to severe. When persons pose a danger to themselves or others, a brief emergency detention allows a mental health assessment to determine if a lengthier involuntary civil commitment is needed. Involuntary commitment requires participation of the civil justice system to provide constitutionally mandated due process protections. However, disasters may incapacitate the judicial system, forcing emergency detainees to be prematurely released if courts are unavailable. The authors review state laws regarding emergency detention of persons deemed a potential mental health-related danger. Although some states are well prepared for the dual impact of disasters on mental health and the court system, important gaps exist. The authors recommend that state laws anticipate the need for brief extensions of emergency detention periods without court participation. States should also include mental health considerations in their disaster preparedness plans for the court system.
突发公共卫生事件（灾害）与程度轻重不一的心理健康状况相关。当人员对自身或他人构成危险时，进行短暂的紧急拘留以便进行心理健康评估，以确定是否需要更长时间的非自愿民事住院治疗。非自愿住院治疗需要民事司法系统的参与，以提供宪法规定的正当程序保护。然而，灾害可能使司法系统丧失能力，如果法院无法运作，会迫使紧急被拘留者过早获释。作者回顾了关于对被视为存在潜在心理健康相关危险人员进行紧急拘留的州法律。尽管一些州对灾害对心理健康和法院系统的双重影响有充分准备，但仍存在重大差距。作者建议州法律应预见到在无需法院参与的情况下对紧急拘留期限进行短暂延长的必要性。各州还应在其针对法院系统的灾害准备计划中纳入心理健康考量因素。
