[§334-60.1]  Voluntary admission fornonemergency treatment or supervision.  (a)  Acceptance for voluntaryinpatient treatment at a psychiatric facility shall be in accordance with usualstandards for hospital admissions.

(b)  A facility may admit for evaluation,diagnosis, or treatment any individual under fifteen years of age for whomapplication is made by the individual’s parent or guardian.  If application foradmission is countersigned by a minor aged fifteen through seventeen yearsbefore a family court officer, no hearing shall be necessary.  If the minorelects not to sign, involuntary hospitalization proceedings shall be initiated.

(c)  A facility shall discharge a voluntarypatient who has sufficiently improved so that hospitalization is no longerdesirable.  A voluntary patient or the patient’s guardian, representative, orattorney may request discharge in writing at any time following admission tothe facility.  If discharge would be dangerous to the patient or others,proceedings for involuntary hospitalization must be initiated as soon aspossible but within twenty-four hours of the receipt by the administrator ofthe written request for discharge.  If that time expires on a Saturday, Sunday,or holiday, the time for initiation is extended to the close of the next courtday.  Upon the initiation of the proceedings, the facility is authorized todetain the patient until further order of the court.  If the patient wasadmitted on the patient’s own application and the request for discharge is madeby a person other than the patient, the discharge may be conditioned upon theagreement of the patient.

(d)  Notice of right to release.  At the timeof the patient’s admission and each six months thereafter, a voluntary patientand the patient’s guardian or representatives shall be notified in writing ofthe patient’s right and how to apply for a discharge. [L 1984, c 188, pt of §3;gen ch 1985]