Maine § 19509. - Notice of death or injury

§ 19509.. Notice of death or injury

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the following provisions apply to psychiatric hospitals, hospital units that are equipped to provide inpatient care and treatment for persons with mental illness, state mental health institutes and state-operated psychiatric treatment facilities. Notice provided under this section must be provided within 7 days of the date of the death, attempted suicide or the incident causing a serious injury resulting in significant impairment of physical condition. Notice provided under this section must include the name of the person with a disability; the name, address and telephone number of that person's legal guardian, conservator or legal representative and parent if that person is a minor; a detailed description of the occurrence and any injuries sustained; the name, street address and telephone number of the facility; and the name and job title of the person providing the notice.   [PL 2001, c. 471, Pt. D, §8 (AMD); PL 2001, c. 471, Pt. D, §10 (AFF).]

1.  Psychiatric hospitals; hospital units.  A psychiatric hospital or a hospital unit that is equipped to provide inpatient care and treatment for persons with mental illness shall provide the agency with access to information relating to the death of any person with a disability who died while in the psychiatric hospital or hospital unit in seclusion or restraint, whose death occurred within 24 hours of being in seclusion or restraint in the psychiatric hospital or hospital unit or when it is reasonable to conclude that the death is a result of having been in seclusion or restraint in the psychiatric hospital or hospital unit.

2.  State mental health institutes; state-operated psychiatric treatment facilities.  A state mental health institute or state-operated psychiatric treatment facility shall notify the agency and provide access to information relating to a person with a disability if that person, while in the hospital, has died, attempted suicide or sustained a serious injury resulting in significant impairment of physical condition. For the purposes of this subsection, significant impairment includes serious injuries resulting from burns, lacerations, bone fractures, substantial hematoma and injuries to internal organs whether self-inflicted or inflicted by another person.

3.  Department.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall, within 3 days of receipt, forward to the agency all notices received pursuant to Title 34‑B, section 3861, subsection 1, paragraph E.