632.150. Release of voluntary patients--voluntary patient may be involuntarily detained, procedure.

Release of voluntary patients--voluntary patient may be involuntarilydetained, procedure.

632.150. 1. A voluntary patient who has applied for his ownadmission may request his release either orally or in writing tothe head of the mental health facility and shall be releasedimmediately; except, that if the head of the facility determinesthat he is mentally disordered and, as a result, presents alikelihood of serious physical harm to himself or others, thehead of the facility may refuse the request for release.

2. If the request for release is refused, the mental healthfacility may detain the person only if a mental healthcoordinator, a licensed physician, a registered professionalnurse designated by the facility and approved by the department,a mental health professional or a peace officer completes anapplication for detention for evaluation and treatment to beginthe involuntary detention of the patient under this chapter.

(L. 1980 H.B. 1724)