78 STAT. ]
PUBLIC LAW 88-597-SEPT. 15, 1964
experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. Each member of the Commission shall hold office for four years, the appointments of physician members to be staggered. The physician members shall serve on a part-time basis and shall be rotated by assignment of the chief judge of the court, so that at any one time the Commission shall consist of the Chairman and two physician members. Physician members of the Commission may practice their profession during their tenure of office, but may not participate in the disposition of the case of any person in which they have rendered professional service or advice. The court shall also appoint an alternate lawyer member who shall have the same qualifications as the lawyer member of the Commission and who shall serve on a part-time basis and act as Chairman in the absence of the permanent Chairman. The salaries of the members of the Commission and its employees shall be fixed in accordance with the provisions of the Classification Act of 1949, as amended. The alternate Chairman shall be paid on a per diem basis at the same rate of compensation as fixed for the permanent Chairman. I t shall be the duty of the Commission on Mental Health to examine alleged mentally ill persons, inquire into their affairs and the affairs of persons who may be legally liable for their support, and to make reports and recommendations to the court. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Commission may conduct its examinations and hearings either at the courthouse or elsewhere at its discretion. The court may issue subpenas at the request of the Commission returnable before the Commission, for the appearance of the alleged mentally ill person, witnesses, and persons who may be liable for the support of the mentally ill person. The Commission, or any of the members thereof, shall be competent and compellable witnesses at any trial, hearing, or other proceeding conducted pursuant to this Act and the physician-patient privilege shall not be applicable. VOLUNTARY H O S P I T A L I Z A T I O N
SEC. 4. (a) Any individual may apply to any public or private hospital in the District of Columbia for admission to such hospital as a voluntary patient for the purposes of observation, diagnosis, and care and treatment of a mental illness. Upon the request of any such individual eighteen years of age or over (or in the case of any individual under eighteen years of age, upon a request made by his spouse, parent, or legal guardian), the administrator of a public hospital shall, if an examination by an admitting psychiatrist at such public hospital reveals the need for such hospitalization, and the administrator of a private hospital may, admit any such individual as a voluntary patient to such hospital for observation, diagnosis, and care and treatment of a mental illness in accordance with the provisions of this Act. (b) Any voluntary patient admitted to any hospital pursuant to this section shall, if h© is eighteen years of age or over, be entitled at any time to obtain his release from such hospital by filing a written request with the chief of service. The chief of service shall, within a period of forty-eight hours after the receipt of any such request (unless such period shall expire on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then not later than noon of the next succeeding day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday), release the voluntary patient making such request. In the case of any voluntary patient under the age of eighteen years, the chief of service shall release such patient, according to the provisions of this section, upon the written request of his spouse, parent, or legal guardian. The chief of service may release any voluntary patient hospitalized pursuant to this section whenever he determines that such patient has recovered or that his continued hospitalization is no longer beneficial to him or advisable.
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