Can an EMT request that a Police Officer or Online Medical Control complete a Section 12 application if one has not already been completed?

Can an EMT request that a Police Officer or Online Medical Control complete a Section 12 application if one has not already been completed?

• A. No, only Police can complete
• B. Yes, but this should not delay transport
• C. Yes, and it must delay transport
• D. Not allowed in EMS

Answer: (B)

In this scenario, the key idea is that EMS can initiate an involuntary mental health hold by asking for a police officer or Online Medical Control to complete a Section 12 application if one hasn’t already been filed. This helps secure the patient for evaluation while staying within the law and hospital pathways. Importantly, this should not slow down urgent transport—the patient should be moved to an appropriate facility as quickly as possible, with the hold paperwork being completed as needed in parallel. The result is that you can involve law enforcement or medical control to get the hold started, but you don’t delay getting the patient to care.

In this scenario, the key idea is that EMS can initiate an involuntary mental health hold by asking for a police officer or Online Medical Control to complete a Section 12 application if one hasn’t already been filed. This helps secure the patient for evaluation while staying within the law and hospital pathways. Importantly, this should not slow down urgent transport—the patient should be moved to an appropriate facility as quickly as possible, with the hold paperwork being completed as needed in parallel. The result is that you can involve law enforcement or medical control to get the hold started, but you don’t delay getting the patient to care.