Chap. 0067 An Act relative to the qualifications of physicians certifying to insanity.

Be it enacted, etc., as folloivs:

Section thirty-two of chapter five hundred and four of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and nine is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the words: - except that one physician on the medical staff of the psychopathic department of the Boston state hospital who is duly qualified as hereinbefore provided, and who shall be designated by the state board of insanity, may sign certificates for the commitment of insane persons who have been admitted to that department for temporary care pending the determination of their insanity or as voluntary inmates, and who are to be committed to the Boston state hospital, but such physician, if a salaried officer of the said hospital, shall not be entitled to any fees, - so as to read as follows: - Section 82. A physician shall not make a certificate of insanity unless he makes oath that.he is a graduate of a legally chartered medical school or college, that he has been in the actual practice of medicine for three years since his graduation and for three years last preceding the making of said oath, and that he is registered in accordance with the provisions of chapter seventy-six of the Revised Laws, nor unless his standing, character and professional knowledge of insanity are satisfactory to the judge. A physician who makes such certificate shall have examined the alleged insane person within five days of his signing and making oath to the certificate, and shall state therein that in his opinion such person is insane and a proper subject for treatment in a hospital for the insane, and the facts on which his opinion is based. A copy of the certificate, attested by the judge, shall be delivered with the insane person to the superintendent of the hospital or receptacle to which the person shall have been committed, to be kept on file with the order of commitment, and he shall forthwith transmit
to the state board of insanity copies of such certificate, of the statement required by the provisions of section thirty-three and of the order of commitment. A certificate bearing date more than ten days prior to the commitment of any person alleged to be insane shall be void, and no certificate shall be valid or received in evidence if signed by a physician holding any office or appointment, other than that of consulting or advisory physician, in a hospital or receptacle for the insane to which such person is committed, except that one physician on the medical staff of the psychopathic department of the Boston state hospital who is duly qualified as hereinbefore provided, and who shall be designated by the state board of insanity, may sign certificates for the commitment of insane persons who have been admitted to that department for temporary care pending the determination of their insanity or as voluntary inmates, and who arc to be committed to the Boston state hospital, but such physician, if a salaried officer of the said hospital, shall not be entitled to any fees. Approved March 22, 1016.