In re Marcia E.

Police brought Marcia E. to a Hospital's emergency room after Marcia lit herself on fire. Medical staff evaluated Marcia and determined that she meet the criteria for emergency involuntary admission pursuant to Me. Rev. Stat. 34-B, 3863. It was not until the third day, when the Hospital could accommodate Marcia in its psychiatric unit, that Hospital officials applied for the judicial endorsement necessary to formally admit Marcia to the Hospital on an emergency basis. The court gave its endorsement. Two days later, the Hospital filed an application for Marcia's involuntary commitment. Marcia sought dismissal of the petition on the basis that the Hospital violated the statutory procedure for emergency hospitalization by holding her for three days before seeking the judicial endorsement. The court denied Marcia's motion to dismiss and ordered Marcia's hospitalization. The superior court affirmed. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the Hospital's failure to comply with the procedural requirements for Marcia's emergency admission did not constitute grounds for dismissal of the separate involuntary commitment petition, as the Hospital met all the requirements necessary to involuntarily commit Marcia. View "In re Marcia E." on Justia Law