Section 41-41-9 - Court may consent to or order medical treatment; allocation of treatment expensesIn addition to all other remedies available at law or in equity, any court having a clerk or any judge thereof may, in either term time or vacation, upon presentation of the written advice or certificate of one or more duly licensed physicians that there is an immediate or imminent necessity for medical or surgical treatment or procedures for an adult of unsound mind or a minor, summarily consent to or order and direct such surgical or medical treatment or procedures for the adult of unsound mind or minor, provided that:
(a)(i) The surrogate for such adult of unsound mind or minor has refused or declined to do so and there is no other person known to be immediately available who is so authorized, empowered, willing or capacitated to so consent; or(ii) There is no person available to be designated as a surrogate; and(b) There has been filed with or there is presented to such court or judge an application for a writ of habeas corpus as to such person, a pleading respecting the custody or care of such person, an application for appointment of a guardian or conservator for such person, a pleading seeking the adjudication of such person as a non compos mentis, drug addict, habitual drunkard or neglected child, or some other instrument or pleading otherwise invoking the aid or jurisdiction of said court or judge or the state, as parens patriae or otherwise, concerning the welfare of such person. Any subsequent dismissal, nonsuit, removal, transfer, overruling or denial of such original application, instrument or pleading, or denial of jurisdiction of the court or judge over the subject matter or necessary parties, shall not retroactively revoke, rescind or invalidate any prior consent. The reasonable expense of an adult of unsound mind or a minor in thus obtaining such surgical or medical treatment or procedures shall be borne by his estate or any person liable at law for his necessities or, if they are unable to pay, by the county of residence or settlement of the person receiving such surgical or medical care.
Upon request of the attending physician or other interested person, it shall be the duty of any district attorney or county attorney to give his assistance in the presentation of any such medical advice or certificate and in obtaining the consent or order of a judge or court of proper jurisdiction.
Laws, 1999, ch. 425, § 2, eff. 3/18/1999.