2330

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 579

Hygiene as an emergency facility, and shall include all
general hospitals with licensed emergency rooms unless
exempted by the Department in consultation with the local
health officer.

(4)  "Mental disorder" means the behavioral and
other symptoms which to lay petitioner initiating the
emergency admission process indicate a clear disturbance in
the mental functioning of another person, and to a physician
or certified psychologist conducting an examination indicate
one or more of the mental disorders described in the
"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Mental Disorders"
published periodically by the American Psychiatric
Association. The term shall not include mental retardation.

(5)  "Peace officer" means a sheriff, State
police officer, municipal or other local police officer.

(6)  "Emergency admittee" means a person who is
proposed for admission to an emergency facility, or a person
who has been admitted to an emergency facility pursuant to
this section.

(b) (1) Any interested person who has reason to
believe that a person is mentally disordered and is in clear
and imminent danger of causing grave and immediate personal
injury to himself or others may complete, sign, and file a
petition for the emergency admission of such person with a
peace officer. Any interested person who signs and files
this petition is hereinafter referred to as the petitioner.

(2) The petition shall include the following:

(i) The petitioner's name, address, and
home and work telephone numbers;

(ii) The name and a description of the
emergency admittee, and if available the emergency
admittee's address, and the names and addresses of the
emergency admittee's spouse, children, parents or relatives,
or any person known to be interested in the emergency
admittee;

(iii) A description of the behavior and
statements of the emergency admittee which have led the
petitioner to reach a reasonable presumption that the
emergency admittee is mentally disordered, including
whatever behavior and statements of the emergency admittee
that have led the petitioner to conclude that because of the
presumed mental disorder, the emergency admittee is in clear
and imminent danger of causing grave and immediate personal
harm to himself or others, and any other facts that support
the petitioner's conclusion that the emergency admission is
appropriate;

(iv) Notice that any petitioner completing
and signing the petition may be required to accompany the