[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 42, Volume 1]

[Revised as of October 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 42CFR51.2]



[Page 151-153]

 

                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH

 

    CHAPTER I--PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 

                                SERVICES

 

PART 51_REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR 

INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS PROGRAM--Table of Contents

 

Sec.  51.2  Definitions.



    In addition to the definitions in section 102 of the Act, as 

amended, the following definitions apply:

    Abuse means any act or failure to act by an employee of a facility 

rendering care or treatment which was performed, or which was failed to 

be performed, knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally, and which caused, 

or may have caused, injury or death to an individual with mental 

illness, and includes but is not limited to acts such as: rape or sexual 

assault; striking; the use of excessive force when placing an individual 

with mental illness in bodily restrains; the use of bodily or chemical 

restraints which is not in compliance with Federal and State laws and 

regulations; verbal, nonverbal, mental and emotional harassment; and any 

other practice which is likely to cause immediate physical or 

psychological harm or



[[Page 152]]



result in long-term harm if such practices continue.

    Act means the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals 

Act of 1986, as amended, also referred to as Protection and Advocacy for 

Individuals with Mental Illness Act.

    ADD means the Administration on Developmental Disabilities within 

the Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and 

Human Services.

    Care or Treatment means services provided to prevent, identify, 

reduce or stabilize mental illness or emotional impairment such as 

mental health screening, evaluation, counseling, biomedical, behavioral 

and psychotherapies, supportive or other adjunctive therapies, 

medication supervision, special education and rehabilitation, even if 

only ``as needed'' or under a contractual arrangement.

    Center or CMHS means the Center for Mental Health Services, a 

component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration.

    Complaint includes, but is not limited to any report or 

communication, whether formal or informal, written or oral, received by 

the P&A system, including media accounts, newspaper articles, telephone 

calls (including anonymous calls) from any source alleging abuse or 

neglect of an individual with mental illness.

    Department or HHS means the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services.

    Designated Official is the State official or public or private 

entity empowered by the Governor or State legislature to be accountable 

for the proper use of funds by the P&A system.

    Director means the Director of the Center for Mental Health 

Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or 

his or her designee.

    Facility includes any public or private residential setting that 

provides overnight care accompanied by treatment services. Facilities 

include, but are not limited to the following: general and psychiatric 

hospitals, nursing homes, board and care homes, community housing, 

juvenile detention facilities, homeless shelters, and jails and prisons, 

including all general areas as well as special mental health or forensic 

units.

    Fiscal Year or FY means the Federal fiscal year (October 1-September 

30) unless otherwise specified.

    Full Investigation is based upon a complaint or a determination of 

probable cause and means the access to facilities, clients and records 

authorized under this part that is necessary for a P&A system to make a 

determination about whether an allegation of abuse or neglect is taking 

place or has taken place. Full investigations may be conducted 

independently or in cooperation with other agencies authorized to 

conduct similar investigations.

    Governor means the chief executive officer of the State, Territory 

or the District of Columbia, or his or her designee, who has been 

formally designated to act for the Governor in carrying out the 

requirements of the Act and this part.

    Individual with Mental Illness means an individual who has a 

significant mental illness or emotional impairment, as determined by a 

mental health professional qualified under the laws and regulations of 

the State and

    (1) Who is an inpatient or resident in a facility rendering care or 

treatment, even if the whereabouts of such impatient or resident is 

unknown;

    (2) Who is in the process of being admitted to a facility rendering 

care or treatment, including persons being transported to such a 

facility, or

    (3) Who is involuntarily confined in a detention facility, jail or 

prison.

    Legal Guardian, Conservator, and Legal Representative all mean an 

individual whose appointment is made and regularly reviewed by a State 

court or agency empowered under State law to appoint and review such 

officers, and having authority to consent to health/mental health care 

or treatment of an individual with mental illness. It does not include 

persons acting only as a representative payee, persons acting only to 

handle financial payments, attorneys or persons acting on behalf of an 

individual with mental illness only in individual legal matters, or 

officials responsible for the provision of health or mental health 

services to an individual with mental illness, or their designees.



[[Page 153]]



    Neglect means a negligent act or omission by an individual 

responsible for providing services in a facility rendering care or 

treatment which caused or may have caused injury or death to an 

individual with mental illness or which placed an individual with mental 

illness at risk of injury or death, and includes, but is not limited to, 

acts or omissions such as failure to: establish or carry out an 

appropriate individual program or treatment plan (including a discharge 

plan); provide adequate nutrition, clothing, or health care; and the 

failure to provide a safe environment which also includes failure to 

maintain adequate numbers of appropriately trained staff.

    Private Entity means a nonprofit or for-profit corporation, 

partnership or other nongovernmental organization.

    Probable cause means reasonable grounds for belief that an 

individual with mental illness has been, or may be at significant risk 

of being subject to abuse or neglect. The individual making such 

determination may base the decision on reasonable inferences drawn from 

his or her experience or training regarding similar incidents, 

conditions or problems that are usually associated with abuse or 

neglect.

    Program means activities carried out by the P&A system and operating 

as part of a P&A system to meet the requirements of the Act.

    Public Entity means an organizational unit of a State or local 

government or a quasi-governmental entity with one or more governmental 

powers.

    System means the organization or agency designated in a State to 

administer and operate a protection and advocacy program under Part C of 

the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 

U.S.C. 6041, 6042) and thereby eligible to administer a program for 

individuals with mental illness.