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Professional Technical In the Industry Vocabulary Test

5150 hold

Pronunciation: fifty-one-fifty hold

A 72-hour involuntary psychiatric hold allowing emergency evaluation of patients deemed dangerous to themselves or others.

Full Definition

Named after California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5150, this legal mechanism permits emergency psychiatric detention for up to 72 hours without patient consent. The hold requires probable cause that the individual is dangerous to self, dangerous to others, or gravely disabled due to mental illness. Used in emergency psychiatry documentation and legal proceedings, editors must distinguish this from other involuntary commitment procedures and ensure proper capitalization in clinical records.

Usage

Usage note: Always capitalize when referring to the specific legal code; lowercase when used generically.

In Context

  • "The emergency physician initiated a 5150 hold after the patient expressed suicidal ideation with a specific plan." — Emergency department report
  • "Documentation must clearly establish criteria justifying the 5150 hold to withstand legal review." — Legal compliance memo

Also known as

72-hour hold involuntary hold psychiatric hold

Contrasted with

voluntary admission discharge

Don't confuse with

5250 hold 5585 hold
← Back to glossary 72-hour hold

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