Section 217.420 - Surgery, general anesthetic not authorized for offender without consent or court order, exceptions, emergencies - treatment against religious beliefs, when allowed1. Except in case of an emergency, the department shall not authorize or permit any major surgery to be performed upon or general anesthetic to be administered to any offender committed to the department unless specific written consent thereto shall first have been obtained from the offender or his parent or legal guardian if he is a minor, or, in the absence of such consent, from the court which vested legal custody of such offender in the department or the circuit court of the county where the offender is located.2. Upon the recommendation of an attending physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, surgeon or dentist, the department may authorize medical, psychiatric, psychological, surgical or dental care and treatment, respectively, as may be required by the condition of the offender. If the care and treatment is contrary to the religious tenets and beliefs of such offender, the treatment of such offender may be authorized by the department only upon the specific written consent of the offender, or his parent or legal guardian if he is a minor, or, in the absence of such consent, upon the specific written order of the court which vested legal custody of the offender in the department or the circuit court of the county where the offender's correctional center is located.3. When the offender has been placed in a correctional center other than one administered by the department, the person or persons administering such facility shall have the authority to provide the offender with necessary medical, psychiatric, psychological, surgical or dental care only to the extent that such authority has been delegated to such persons with respect to particular offenders and subject to such limitations as may be prescribed by law.L. 1982 H.B. 1196 § 29, A.L. 1989 H.B. 408, A.L. 1995 H.B. 424