79 STAT. ]
PUBLIC LAW 89-183-SEPT. 14, 1965
§ 21-513. Hospitalization of nonprotesting persons A friend or relative of a person believed to be suffering from a mental illness may apply on behalf of that person to the admitting psychiatrist of a hospital by presenting the person, together with a referral from a practicing physician. For the purpose of examination and treatment, a private hospital may accept a person so presented and referred, and a public hospital shall accept a person so presented and referred, if, in the judgment of the admitting psychiatrist, the need for examination and treatment is indicated on the basis of the person's mental condition and the person signs a statement at the time of the admission stating that he does not object to hospitalization. The statement shall contain in simple, nontechnical language the fact that the person is to be hospitalized and a description of the right to release set out in section 21-514. The admitting psychiatrist may admit a person so presented, without referral from a practicing physician, if the need for an immediate admission is apparent to the admitting psychiatrist upon preliminary examination. § 21-514. Release of patients hospitalized under section 21-513 Unless proceedings for hospitalization under court order have been initiated under subchapter IV of this chapter, a hospital, upon the written request of a patient hospitalized pursuant to section 21-513, shall immediately release him. Subchapter III—Emergency Hospitalization § 21-521. Detention of persons believed to be mentally ill; transportation and application to hospital An accredited officer or agent of the Department of Public Health of the District of Columbia, or an officer authorized to make arrests in the District of Columbia, or the family physician of the person in question, who has reason to believe that a person is mentally ill and, because of the illness, is likely to injure himself or others if he is not immediately detained may, without a warrant, take the person into custody, transport him to a public or private hospital, and make application for his admission thereto for purposes of emergency observation and diagnosis. The application shall reveal the circumstances under which the person was taken into custody and the reasons therefor. § 21-522. Examination and admission to hospital; notice Subject to the provisions of section 21-523, the administrator of a private hospital, may, and the administrator of a public hospital shall, admit and detain for purposes of emergency observation and diagnosis a person with respect to whom application is made under section 2 1 521, if the application is accompanied by a certificate of a psychiatrist on duty at the hospital stating that he has examined the person and is of the opinion that he has symptoms of a mental illness and, as a result thereof, is likely to injure himself or others unless he is immediately hospitalized. Not later than 24 hours after the admission pursuant to this subchapter of a person to a hospital, the administrator of the hospital shall serve notice of the admission, by registered mail, to the spouse, parent, or legal guardian of the person and to the Commission on Mental Health. § 21-523. Court order requirement for hospital detention beyond 48 hours; maximum period for observation A person admitted to a hospital under section 21-522 may not be detained in the hospital for a period in excess of 48 hours from the time of his admission, unless the administrator of the hospital has, within that period, filed a written petition with the court for an order
753
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