Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 3.djvu/623

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PUBLIC LAW 102-484—OCT. 23, 1992 106 STAT. 2417 (1) Upon the request of the member, an attorney who is a member of the Armed Forces or employed by the Department of Defense and who is designated to provide advice under this section shall advise the member of the ways in which the member may seek redress under this section. (2) If a member of the Armed Forces submits to an Inspector General an allegation that the member was referred for a mental health evaluation in violation of the revised regulations, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense shall conduct or oversee an investigation of the allegation. (3) The member shall have the right to also be evaluated by a mental health professional of the member's own choosing, if reasonably available. Any such evaluation, including an evaluation by a mental health professional who is not an employee of the Department of Defense, shall be conducted within a reasonable period of time after the member is referred for an evaluation and shall be at the member's own expense. (4)(A) No person may restrict the member in communicating with an Inspector General, attorney, member of Congress, or others about the member's referral for a mental health evaluation. (B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply to a communication that is unlawful. (4) In situations other than emergencies, the member shall have at least two business days before a scheduled mental health evaluation to meet with an attorney, Inspector General, chaplain, or other appropriate peirty. If a commcuiding officer Records. believes the condition of the member requires that such evaluation occur sooner, the commanding officer shall state the reasons in writing as part of the personnel record of the member. (5) In the event the member is aboard a naval vessel or in a circumstance related to the member's military duties which makes compliance with any of the procedures in subsection (b) impractical, the commanding officer seeking the referral shall prepare a memorandum setting forth the reasons for the inability to comply with such procedures. (d) ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF MEMBERS AND PROCEDURES FOR Regulations. EMERGENCY OR INVOLUNTARY INPATIENT EVALUATIONS. —<1) The revisions required by subsection (a) shall provide that a member of the Armed Forces may be admitted, under criteria for admission set forth in such regulations, to a treatment facility for an emergency or involimtary mental health evaluation when there is reasonable cause to believe that the member may be suffering from a mental disorder. The revised regulations shall include definitions of the terms "emergency^ and "mental disorder". (2) The revised regulations shall provide that, in any case in which a member of the Armed Forces is admitted to a treatment facility for an emergency or involuntary mental healtii evaluation, the following provisions apply: (A) Reasonable efforts shall be made, as soon after admission as the member's condition permits, to inform the member of the reasons for the evaluation, the nature and consequences of the evaluation and any treatment, and the member's rights under this section. (B) The member shall have the right to contact, as soon after admission as the member's condition permits, a friend, relative, attorney, or Inspector General.