Hospital Petition/Discharge Incapable Adults.

SB 410 allows hospitals in North Carolina to ask a court for permission to discharge adult patients (18+) who cannot make or communicate health decisions, when no authorized person (like a family member or legal guardian) will consent to the discharge. Hospitals must first get written agreement from two licensed doctors that the discharge is medically appropriate, and wait five business days after that agreement before filing the court petition. The court must rule on the petition within five business days. This bill directly affects hospitals, incapacitated adult patients, and their authorized decision-makers by creating a new court process for discharge decisions.