§ 71.05.050. Voluntary application for mental health services -- Rights -- Review of condition and status -- Detention -- Person refusing voluntary admission, temporary detention
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the right of any person to apply voluntarily to any public or private agency or practitioner for treatment of a mental disorder, either by direct application or by referral. Any person voluntarily admitted for inpatient treatment to any public or private agency shall be released immediately upon his or her request. Any person voluntarily admitted for inpatient treatment to any public or private agency shall orally be advised of the right to immediate discharge, and further advised of such rights in writing as are secured to them pursuant to this chapter and their rights of access to attorneys, courts, and other legal redress. Their condition and status shall be reviewed at least once each one hundred eighty days for evaluation as to the need for further treatment or possible discharge, at which time they shall again be advised of their right to discharge upon request: PROVIDED HOWEVER, That if the professional staff of any public or private agency or hospital regards a person voluntarily admitted who requests discharge as presenting, as a result of a mental disorder, an imminent likelihood of serious harm, or is gravely disabled, they may detain such person for sufficient time to notify the *county designated mental health professional of such person's condition to enable the *county designated mental health professional to authorize such person being further held in custody or transported to an evaluation and treatment center pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, which shall in ordinary circumstances be no later than the next judicial day: PROVIDED FURTHER, That if a person is brought to the emergency room of a public or private agency or hospital for observation or treatment, the person refuses voluntary admission, and the professional staff of the public or private agency or hospital regard such person as presenting as a result of a mental disorder an imminent likelihood of serious harm, or as presenting an imminent danger because of grave disability, they may detain such person for sufficient time to notify the *county designated mental health professional of such person's condition to enable the *county designated mental health professional to authorize such person being further held in custody or transported to an evaluation treatment center pursuant to the conditions in this chapter, but which time shall be no more than six hours from the time the professional staff determine that an evaluation by the *county designated mental health professional is necessary.
[2000 c 94 § 3; 1998 c 297 § 6; 1997 c 112 § 5; 1979 ex.s. c 215 § 6; 1975 1st ex.s. c 199 § 2; 1974 ex.s. c 145 § 6; 1973 1st ex.s. c 142 § 10.]
Notes:
*Reviser's note: The term "county designated mental health professional" as defined in RCW 71.05.020 was changed to "designated mental health professional" by 2005 c 504 § 104.
Effective dates -- Severability -- Intent -- 1998 c 297: See notes following RCW 71.05.010.
Sections: Previous 71.05.020 71.05.025 71.05.026 71.05.027 71.05.030 71.05.032 71.05.040 71.05.050 71.05.100 71.05.110 71.05.120 71.05.130 71.05.132 71.05.135 71.05.137 Next
Last modified: April 7, 2009