62 STAT.] 80TH CONG. , 2D SESS.-CH. 597-JUNE 22, 1948 beths Hospital the cost of caring for such person as provided in sec- tion 3 of this Act; except that if the Board finds that such person, or any other person legally responsible for his care, is able to pay all or any part of the cost of such care, the Board shall not be required to make a certification unless it has, pursuant to section 3, made an agree- ment satisfactory to it for payment to the District of Columbia of the cost of such care or such part of such cost. SEC. 2. Any person received at Saint Elizabeths Hospital for mental care and treatment under section 1 of this Act shall not be detained there more than three days after having given written notice to the Superintendent thereof requesting his release, or, in the case of any such person who is under the age of twenty-one years, more than three days after he or his parent, legal guardian, or other legal repre- sentative gives such notice: Provided,That (a) if within such three- day period there shall be filed in the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia a petition with respect to such person, as provided by the Act entitled "An Act to provide for insanity proceedings in the District of Columbia", approved August 9, 1939, or (b) if an authorized representative of the Board of Public Welfare, upon receipt of a notice signed by the Superintendent of Saint Eliza- beths Hospital or his authorized representative stating that in his opinion said person is of unsound mind and should not be allowed to remain at liberty or go unrestrained, shall within such three-day period file a verified petition for a writ de lunatico inquirendo, or for an order of commitment, accompanied by the aforesaid notice, in the said District Court, alleging upon information and belief that such person is of unsound mind and should not be allowed to remain at liberty or go unrestrained, such person shall be detained by the Superintend- ent of Saint Elizabeths Hospital until a final judgment is entered by the Court upon any such petition and any petition filed in accordance with clause (b) of this proviso, accompanied by the aforesaid notice, shall forthwith be referred by the Court to the Commission on Mental Health, which said petition and notice shall be sufficient to initiate proceedings before said Commission. Pending the hearing upon the petition, such person need not be sent to Gallinger Hospitaffor obser- vation and treatment, but shall be detained in Saint Elizabeths Hos- pital for observation and treatment. SEc. 3. The cost of board, medical care, and treatment furnished under this Act shall be a charge upon the District of Columbia and shall be paid by the District of Columbia to Saint Elizabeths Hospital. The District of Columbia is authorized to make such agreement as it deems necessary with any patient seeking board, medical care, and treatment under this Act, or any other person or persons legally responsible therefor, for payment to the District of Columbia of the cost of such board, medical care, and treatment, or for the payment of a part of such cost; and is further authorized to take appropriate steps by legal action or otherwise to enforce such agreement, or, in the absence of an agreement, to recover such cost of board, medical care, and treatment, or any part thereof, from the patient or from any person or persons legally liable therefor. The District of Columbia shall not be charged with the cost of board, medical care, and treatment furnished for any boarder and patient with respect to whom the cer- tification required under section 1 of this Act shall have been revoked by the Board of Public Welfare, and the said Board is authorized to order revocation of any such certification: (a) When any person fails to make any payment under any agreement entered into under this Act for the cost of board, medical care, and treatment, or (b) when, after a boarder and patient has been admitted to such hospital under a certification, without any agreement having been entered into for his care and treatment, the said Board determines, upon evidence satis- 573 Ability of patient to pay. Detention after no- tice for release. Petition for writ de lunatico inquirendo. 53 Stat. 1293. D.C. Code §§21-310 to 21-325 . Post, p. 1195. Financial agreo- ment. Revocation of certi- fication.
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