§ 36-519 — Discharge of voluntary patients

A. The medical director of the agency shall discharge any patient admitted voluntarily who has recovered or who is no longer benefiting from the evaluation, care or treatment available, except as provided in subsection B of this section.

B. Upon written request by a patient admitted pursuant to section 36-518, subsection A or by the parent, guardian or custodian of a patient admitted pursuant to section 36-518, subsection C, the patient shall be given a discharge within twenty-four hours after the request, excluding weekends or holidays unless the medical director of the agency has proceeded pursuant to section 36-531, subsections B and C and section 36-533. The costs of such proceedings shall be a charge against the county of the patient's residence.

C. If the medical director of the agency finds that a patient admitted voluntarily is a person with a grave disability and requires the service of a guardian or conservator or both for the protection of health and property, he shall proceed pursuant to section 36-531, subsections B and C and section 36-533 unless it is appropriate to discharge the patient to suitable alternative arrangements for care, treatment and protection.