Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
5.6 Custodial Interference Investigations
5.6.5 Protective Custody Procedures for Emergency Medical Treatment of
Minors (Revised: 1/31/11)
It is the policy of this Department to respond to and investigate a request for a "Police Hold"
from any person. Typically, the request will come from a University of California attending
physician or their designee or a member of the University of California, Department of Social
Services.
A. The following procedure shall apply to an officer receiving a Police Hold request:
1. The responding field officer shall meet with the requesting party and determine if
a written medical statement signed by the attending physician indicates that the
nature of the juvenile's medical condition is "life threatening" and includes the
efforts th e hospital staff has made to obtain the minor parent(s)’s consent for the
required medical treatment. The parents will be asked by hospital staff to sign the
medical refusal form, which, if signed, the officer will retain a copy for the judge
to review.
2. If the information above is confirmed by the officer, he/she shall advise the
attending physician that the minor is being placed on a Police Hold, pursuant to
the relevant W&I sections. The officer should complete the juvenile booking form
and get a juve nile number.
B. The UCSF police officer should contact a Superior Court judge via telephone. The officer
shall explain the circumstances of the emergency Police Hold and request verbal
authorization from the magistrate for UCSF hospital staff to perform t he necessary
medical treatment. Typically, the request involves parents refusing to allow a blood
transfusion for their child because of religious beliefs, which places the minor in a life -
threatening situation.
1. To contact a Superior Court magistrate du ring normal business hours, 0800 -1700
hours, Monday through Friday, the officer needs to call the San Francisco Youth
Guidance Center. The officer should ask for the on -duty probation officer and
relay the need to speak with a magistrate regarding obtainin g verbal authorization
for emergency medical treatment for a minor with a life -threatening condition.
The magistrate should be advised that the San Francisco Children's Emergency
Services will be contacted to prepare a "minute order."
2. To contact a Super ior court magistrate during non -business hours, 1700 -0800
hours, weekends and holidays, the officer shall call the SFPD Bails Department.
The officer shall request to contact a Superior Court judge to obtain verbal
authorization for emergency medical care for a minor. Officers shall provide a
current location phone number for the on -call judge to call to provide
authorization.
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
C. After obtaining verbal authorization from the magistrate and obtaining his/her name for
the report, the officer shall advise the attending physician or designee of the authorization
to proceed.
D. The officer shall immediately thereafter telephone the Child Protective Services (CPS)
Department at their 24 -hours a day number, 800 -856-5553 or 415 -558-2650.
1. During normal business hours, a CPS officer will generate the "minute order" and
request the police officers’ copies of the medical statement, the parent’s refusal
form and the Juvenile Admissions Form. Unless other arrangements are made,
officers shall proceed to 1625 Van Ness Avenue, where they will meet the
Protective Services Officer (PSO) and show him/her the paperwork. Usually, the
officers and the PSO will proceed to the location of the magistrate (Youth
Guidance Center) to obtain his/her signature on the "minute order."
2. If calling during off hours, 1700 -0800 hours, weekends and holidays, the officer
will call the same number to be connected to the on -call PSO. The police officer
shall explain the situation and advise the PSO that verbal authorization from the
named magi strate has already been received. The PSO will advise where to meet,
usually at the Children's Shelter, located at San Francisco General Hospital,
Building 80, 995 Potrero Avenue. He/she will prepare the "minute order" and
accompany the officers to the mag istrate’s residence to obtain a signature.
E. The UCSF Police officer shall then proceed to the University and provide the attending
physician, or their designee, with a copy of the signed court order. The officer shall
ensure a copy of the signed court o rder and all copies of the juvenile booking form,
except the officer's copy, be placed in the minor’s (patient’s) medical chart.
F. The UCSF officer shall complete a written narrative report, using a crime face sheet and
narratives, including copies of th e court order, medical statement and juvenile booking
form, as attachments. The officer will need to obtain an outside agency case (OAC)
number through UCPD Dispatch, in addition to the UCPD case number.