ORS 426.335
Limitations on liability


The following limitations on liability are applicable to actions and proceedings within this chapter and ORS 430.397 (Voluntary admission of person to treatment facility) to 430.401 (Liability of public officers, providers, treatment facilities and sobering facilities):

(1)

The following individuals may not in any way be held criminally or civilly liable for the initiation of commitment procedures under ORS 426.070 (Initiation), provided the individual acts in good faith, on probable cause and without malice:

(a)

The community mental health program director or designee of the director.

(b)

The two petitioning persons.

(c)

The local health officer.

(d)

Any magistrate.

(e)

Any peace officer or parole and probation officer.

(f)

Any licensed independent practitioner attending the person alleged to have a mental illness.

(g)

Any licensed independent practitioner associated with the hospital or institution where the person alleged to have a mental illness is a patient.

(2)

The community mental health program director or the designee of the director conducting the investigation under ORS 426.070 (Initiation) and 426.074 (Investigation) shall not be held criminally or civilly liable for conducting the investigation, provided the investigator acts in good faith, on probable cause and without malice.

(3)

The individual representing the state’s interest under ORS 426.100 (Advice of court) shall not be held criminally or civilly liable for performing responsibilities under ORS 426.100 (Advice of court) as long as the individual acts in good faith and without malice.

(4)

An examiner appointed under ORS 426.110 (Appointment of examiners) may not be held criminally or civilly liable for actions pursuant to ORS 426.120 (Examination report) if the examiner acts in good faith and without malice.

(5)

A licensed independent practitioner, hospital or judge may not be held criminally or civilly liable for actions pursuant to ORS 426.228 (Custody), 426.231 (Hold by licensed independent practitioner), 426.232 (Emergency admission), 426.234 (Duties of professionals at facility where person admitted) or 426.235 (Transfer between hospital and nonhospital facilities) if the licensed independent practitioner, hospital or judge acts in good faith, on probable cause and without malice.

(6)

A peace officer, individual authorized under ORS 426.233 (Authority of community mental health program director and of other individuals), community mental health director or designee, hospital or other facility, licensed independent practitioner or judge may not in any way be held criminally or civilly liable for actions pursuant to ORS 426.228 (Custody) to 426.235 (Transfer between hospital and nonhospital facilities) if the individual or facility acts in good faith, on probable cause and without malice.

(7)

Any legal guardian, relative or friend of a person with mental illness who assumes responsibility for the person under a conditional release under ORS 426.125 (Qualifications and requirements for conditional release) shall not be liable for any damages that result from the misconduct of the person while on conditional release if the legal guardian, relative or friend acts in good faith and without malice.

(8)

The individuals designated in this subsection may not be liable for personal injuries or other damages that result from the misconduct of a person with mental illness while the person is on outpatient commitment under ORS 426.127 (Outpatient commitment) if the designated individual acts without willful and wanton neglect of duty. This subsection is applicable to all of the following:

(a)

The community mental health program director and the designee of the director for the county in which the committed person resides.

(b)

The superintendent or director of any staff of any facility where the person with mental illness receives treatment during the outpatient commitment.

(c)

The Director of the Oregon Health Authority.

(d)

The licensed independent practitioner and the facility providing care or treatment to a person on outpatient commitment.

(9)

For trial visits granted under ORS 426.273 (Trial visits) and 426.275 (Effect of failure to adhere to condition of placement):

(a)

The following individuals and entities may not be liable for a person’s expenses while on trial visit:

(A)

The licensed independent practitioner and the facility providing care or treatment to a person on a trial visit;

(B)

The superintendent or director of the facility providing care or treatment to a person on a trial visit;

(C)

The Director of the Oregon Health Authority; and

(D)

The chief medical officer of the facility.

(b)

The individuals designated in this paragraph may not be liable for damages that result from the misconduct of a person with mental illness while on trial visit if the designated individual acts without willful and wanton neglect of duty:

(A)

The community mental health program director for the county in which the person resides;

(B)

The superintendent, director or chief medical officer of any facility providing care or treatment to a patient on a trial visit;

(C)

The licensed independent practitioner responsible for the patient’s care or treatment during a trial visit;

(D)

The Director of the Oregon Health Authority; or

(E)

The employees and agents of individuals or facilities under this paragraph. [Formerly 426.280; 2005 c.264 §21; 2009 c.595 §422; 2013 c.360 §57; 2015 c.461 §19; 2015 c.736 §68]

Source: Section 426.335 — Limitations on liability, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors426.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Immunity from criminal or civil liability for conducting investigation applies to suits by interview subject or by third parties. Deming v. Mt. Hood Community Mental Health Center, 128 Or App 164, 875 P2d 484 (1994), Sup Ct review denied

Immunity from criminal or civil liability for conducting investigation includes immunity both for act of investigating and for consequences of investigation. Deming v. Mt. Hood Community Mental Health Center, 128 Or App 164, 875 P2d 484 (1994), Sup Ct review denied

This section is ineffective to give private physicians acting in concert with state qualified immunity against claims under 42 U.S.C.A. 1983. Jensen v. Lane County, 222 F3d 570 (9th Cir. 2000)

Attorney General Opinions

Right of the Superintendent of the Oregon State Hospital to grant trial visits to patients committed under [former] ORS 161.340, (1972) Vol 36, p 266

426.005
Definitions for ORS 426.005 to 426.390
426.010
State hospitals for persons with mental illness
426.020
Superintendent
426.060
Commitment to Oregon Health Authority
426.070
Initiation
426.072
Care while in custody
426.074
Investigation
426.075
Notice and records of treatment prior to hearing
426.080
Execution and return of citation or warrant of detention
426.090
Citation
426.095
Commitment hearing
426.100
Advice of court
426.110
Appointment of examiners
426.120
Examination report
426.123
Observation of person in custody
426.125
Qualifications and requirements for conditional release
426.127
Outpatient commitment
426.129
Community liaison
426.130
Court determination of mental illness
426.133
Assisted outpatient treatment
426.135
Counsel on appeal
426.140
Place of confinement
426.150
Transportation to treatment facility
426.155
Release of information about person held in custody pending commitment proceeding or while committed or recommitted
426.160
Disclosure of record of commitment proceeding
426.170
Delivery of certified copy of record
426.180
Emergency commitment of individuals in Indian country
426.200
Duties following emergency admission
426.210
Limit of detention after commitment in emergency proceedings
426.217
Change of status of committed patient to voluntary patient
426.220
Voluntary admission
426.223
Retaking persons in custody of or committed to Oregon Health Authority
426.225
Voluntary admission to state hospital of committed person
426.228
Custody
426.231
Hold by licensed independent practitioner
426.232
Emergency admission
426.233
Authority of community mental health program director and of other individuals
426.234
Duties of professionals at facility where person admitted
426.235
Transfer between hospital and nonhospital facilities
426.236
Rules
426.237
Prehearing detention
426.238
Classifying facilities
426.241
Payment of care, custody and treatment costs
426.250
Payment of costs related to commitment proceedings
426.255
County to pay costs
426.273
Trial visits
426.275
Effect of failure to adhere to condition of placement
426.278
Distribution of copies of conditions for outpatient commitment or trial visit
426.292
Release prior to expiration of term of commitment
426.295
Judicial determination of competency
426.297
Payment of expenses for proceeding under ORS 426.295
426.300
Discharge of committed persons
426.301
Release of committed person
426.303
Effect of protest of further commitment
426.307
Court hearing
426.309
Effect of ORS 426.217 and 426.301 to 426.307 on other discharge procedure
426.310
Reimbursement of county expenses for commitment proceedings involving nonresidents
426.320
Payment of certain expenses by the state
426.330
Presentation and payment of claims
426.335
Limitations on liability
426.370
Withholding information obtained in certain commitment or admission investigations
426.380
Availability of writ of habeas corpus
426.385
Rights of committed persons
426.390
Construction
426.395
Posting of statement of rights of committed persons
426.415
Licensing of persons who may order and oversee use of restraint and seclusion in facilities providing mental health treatment to individuals under 21 years of age
426.490
Policy
426.495
Definitions for ORS 426.490 to 426.500
426.500
Powers and duties of Oregon Health Authority
426.502
Definitions for ORS 426.502 to 426.508
426.504
Power of Oregon Health Authority to develop community housing for persons with chronic mental illness
426.506
Community Mental Health Housing Fund
426.508
Sale of F. H. Dammasch State Hospital
426.510
“Sexually dangerous person” defined
426.650
Voluntary admission to state institution
426.670
Treatment programs for sexually dangerous persons
426.675
Determination of sexually dangerous persons
426.680
Trial visits for probationer
426.701
Commitment of “extremely dangerous” person with qualifying mental disorder
426.702
Discharge from commitment of extremely dangerous person with qualifying mental disorder
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