After an initial 72-hour involuntary psychiatric hold expired on Thursday night, a California judge granted a request from Amanda Bynes' parents that their daughter's hospital stay be extended for up to two more weeks.
According to E! Online, Bynes was represented by a court-appointed attorney at the hearing on Thursday, where Rick and Lynne Bynes asked Amanda's doctors to recommend that it was in the actress' best interest to remain hospitalized.
Click Here To Read What Happens During a 5150 Hold.
MTV News spoke to psychiatrist Dr. Jody M. Rawles earlier this week about the mechanics of the 5150 psychiatric hold and he said that an extension of the initial order is not that uncommon. "If you are setting fires on someone else's property and are disorganized and give answers to questions that don't make sense, a peace officer might put in for a 5150," said Rawles, who runs the acute inpatient unit at UC-Irvine and has no first-hand knowledge of the Bynes case.
California's 5150 allows for someone to be involuntarily hospitalized if they are deemed a danger to themselves, others or if they have a grave disability that renders them unable to provide for their food, clothing or shelter needs. If doctors and family members feel that more time is needed to assess the patient's needs, a hearing is held for an extension of the involuntary hold, which is then coded 5250, according to Rawles.
"If after the 72 hours they feel the patient is still a danger to themselves or other and they won't stay voluntarily, then you ...

