N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law Section 9.57
Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment

  • powers of emergency room physicians
A physician who has examined a person in an emergency room or provided emergency medical services at a general hospital, as defined in article twenty-eight of the public health law, which does not have an inpatient psychiatric service, or a physician who has examined a person in a comprehensive psychiatric emergency program shall be authorized to request that the director of the program or hospital, or the director’s designee, direct the removal of such person to a hospital approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (a) of section 9.39 of this article or to a comprehensive psychiatric emergency program, if the physician determines upon examination of such person that such person appears to have a mental illness for which immediate care and treatment in a hospital is appropriate and which is likely to result in serious harm to himself or others. Upon the request of the physician, the director of the program or hospital or the director’s designee, is authorized to direct peace officers, when acting pursuant to their special duties, or police officers, who are members of an authorized police department or force or of a sheriff’s department to take into custody and transport any such person. Upon the request of an emergency room physician or the director of the program or hospital, or the director’s designee, an ambulance service, as defined by subdivision two of Public Health Law § 3001 (Definitions)section three thousand one of the public health law, is authorized to take into custody and transport any such person. Such person may then be admitted to a hospital in accordance with the provisions of section 9.39 of this article or to a comprehensive psychiatric emergency program in accordance with the provisions of section 9.40 of this article. * NB Effective until July 1, 2027 * § 9.57 Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment; powers of emergency room physicians. A physician who has examined a person in an emergency room or provided emergency medical services at a general hospital, as defined in article twenty-eight of the public health law, which does not have an inpatient psychiatric service, shall be authorized to request that the director of the hospital, or his designee, direct the removal of such person to a hospital approved by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (a) of section 9.39 of this article, if the physician determines upon examination of such person that such person appears to have a mental illness for which immediate care and treatment in a hospital is appropriate and which is likely to result in serious harm to himself or others, as defined in section 9.39 of this article. Upon the request of the physician, the director of the hospital or his designee, is authorized to direct peace officers, when acting pursuant to their special duties, or police officers, who are members of an authorized police department or force or of a sheriff’s department to take into custody and transport any such person. Upon the request of an emergency room physician or the director of the hospital, or his designee, an ambulance service, as defined by subdivision two of Public Health Law § 3001 (Definitions)section three thousand one of the public health law, is authorized to take into custody and transport any such person. Such person may then be admitted in accordance with the provisions of section 9.39 of this article. * NB Effective July 1, 2027

Source: Section 9.57 — Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment; powers of emergency room physicians, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/MHY/9.­57 (updated May 3, 2024; accessed Nov. 8, 2025).

9.01
Definitions 9.03
Admission to a hospital 9.05
Examining physicians, examining psychiatric nurse practitioners and medical certificates 9.07
Notice to all patients of their rights and of the availability of the mental hygiene legal service 9.09
Notices to mental hygiene legal service concerning minors 9.11
Patients’ records 9.13
Voluntary admissions 9.15
Informal admissions 9.17
Voluntary and informal admissions 9.19
Voluntary and informal admissions 9.21
Voluntary and informal admissions 9.23
Voluntary and informal admissions 9.25
Voluntary and informal admissions 9.27
Involuntary admission on medical certification 9.29
Involuntary admission on medical certification 9.31
Involuntary admission on medical certification 9.33
Court authorization to retain an involuntary patient 9.35
Review of court authorization to retain an involuntary patient 9.37
Involuntary admission on certificate of a director of community services or his designee 9.39
Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care, and treatment 9.40
Emergency observation, care and treatment in comprehensive psychiatric emergency programs 9.41
Emergency assessment for immediate observation, care, and treatment 9.43
Emergency assessment for immediate observation, care, and treatment 9.45
Emergency assessment for immediate observation, care, and treatment 9.46
Reports of substantial risk or threat of harm by mental health professionals 9.47
Duties of local officers in regard to their persons with a mental illness 9.48
Duties of directors of assisted outpatient treatment programs 9.49
Transfer of juvenile delinquents 9.51
Residential treatment facilities for children and youth 9.53
Children in the custody of social services officials or the division for youth 9.55
Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment 9.57
Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment 9.58
Transport for evaluation 9.59
Immunity from liability 9.60
Assisted outpatient treatment 9.63
Transportation of persons to or between hospitals 9.64
Notice of admission determination to community provider
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Nov. 8, 2025

Last modified:
May 3, 2024

§ 9.57. Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care & treatment's source at nysenate​.gov

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