Policy Text
II. DEFINITIONS
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER - A person licensed as a clinical social worker
under Florida Law.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST - A person licensed as a clinical psychologist under
Florida Law.
INCOMPETENT TO CONSENT TO TREATMENT- A person's judgment is so
affected by mental illness that the person lacks the capacity to make a well-
reasoned, willful and knowing decision concerning their medical or mental health
treatment.
INVOLUNTARY EXAMINATION - means an examination performed under s.
394.463 to determine if an individual qualifies for involuntary inpatient treatment
under s. 394.467(1) or involuntary outpatient treatment under s. 394.4655(1).
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - Law enforcement Officer as defined in
Florida Law.
MENTAL ILLNESS - An impairment of the mental or emotional processes that
exercise conscious control of one's actions or of the ability to perceive or
understand reality, which impairment substantially interferes with a person's
ability to meet the ordinary demands of living, regardless of etiology. For the
purposes of this part, the term does not include retardation or developmental
disability as defined in chapter 393, intoxication, or conditions manifested only by
antisocial behavior or substance abuse impairment.
PARENS PATRIAE (Black's Law Dictionary) - (Latin; Parent of his country) Used
when the government acts on behalf of a child or mentally ill person. Refers to the
"state" as the guardian of minors and incompetent people.
PHYSICIAN - A medical practitioner licensed under Florida Law who has
experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and nervous disorders or a
physician employed by a facility operated by the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs which qualifies as a receiving or treatment facility under this
part.
PSYCHIATRIC NURSE - A registered nurse licensed under Florida Law who has
a master's degree or a doctorate in psychiatric nursing and 2 years of post-master's
clinical experience under the supervision of a physician.
PSYCHIATRIST - A medical practitioner licensed under Florida Law who has
primarily diagnosed and treated mental and nervous disorders for a period of not
less than 3 years, inclusive of psychiatric residency.
PUBLIC SERVICE AIDE - Non-sworn personnel assigned to the Operations
Division who handle routine calls for service when there is no subject on the scene
or potential for violence.
RECEIVING FACILITY - Any public or private facility designated by the
department to receive and hold involuntary patients under emergency conditions
or for psychiatric evaluation and to provide short-term treatment. The term does
not include a county jail.
TREATMENT FACILITY - Any state-owned, state-operated, or state-supported
hospital, center, or clinic designated by the department for extended treatment and
hospitalization, beyond that provided for by a receiving facility, of persons who
have a mental illness, including facilities of the United States Government, and
any private facility designated by the department when rendering such services to
a person pursuant to the provisions of this part. Patients treated in facilities of the
United States Government shall be solely those whose care is the responsibility of
the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.