79 STAT. ]
PUBLIC LAW 89-183-SEPT. 14, 1965
757
of service, after considering the reports, determines that the patient continues to be mentally ill to the extent that he is likely to injure himself or other persons if not hospitalized, but one or more of the physicians participating in the examination reports that the patient is not mentally ill to that extent, the patient may petition the court for an order directing his release. The petition shall be accompanied by the reports of the physicians who conducted the examination of the patient. §21-547. Judicial determination of petition filed under section 21-546; order; physicians as witnesses I n considering a petition filed under section 21-546, the court shall consider the testimony of the physicians who participated in the examination of the patient, and the reports of the physicians accompanying the petition. After considering the testimony and reports, the court shall either (1) reject the petition and order the continued hospitalization of the patient, or (2) order the chief of service to immediately release the patient. A physician participating in the examination shall be a competent and compellable witness at any trial or hearing held pursuant to this chapter. §21-548. Periodic examinations by hospital authorities; release The chief of service of a public or private hospital shall, as often as practicable, but not less often than every six months, examine or cause to be examined each patient admitted to a hospital pursuant to this subchapter and if he determines on the basis of the examination that the conditions which justified the involuntary hospitalization of the patient no longer exist, the chief of service shall immediately release the patient. § 21-549. Preservation of other rights to release Sections 21-546 to 21-548 do not prohibit a person from exercising a right presently available to him for obtaining release from confinement, including the right to petition for a writ of habeas corpus. §21-550. Surety The court in its discretion may require a petitioner under this subchapter to file an undertaking with surety to be approved by the court in such amount as the court deems proper, conditioned to save harmless the respondent by reason of costs incurred, including attorney's fees, if any, and damages suffered by the respondent, as a result of any action under this subchapter. §21-551. Nonresidents (a) If a person ordered committed to a public hospital by the court pursuant to section 21-545 is found by the Commission, subject to a review by the court, not to be a resident of the District of Columbia, and to be a resident of another place, he shall be transferred to the State of his residence if an appropriate institution of that State is willing to accept him. If the person is an indigent, the expense of transferring him, including the traveling expenses of necessary attendants, shall be borne by the District of Columbia. (b) For the purposes of this section, "resident of the District of thl'instHc"* °/ Columbia" means a person who has maintained his principal place of coiumbi"." ° abode in the District of Columbia for more than one year immediately prior to the filing of the petition referred to in subsection (a) of section 21-541.
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