§ 21-582 — Petitions, applications, or certificates of physicians, qualified psychologists, and qualified nurse practitioners.

(1) A petition, application, or certificate authorized under §§ 21-521 , 21-541(a) , 21-545.01 , or 21-548 may not be considered if made by a psychiatrist, physician, qualified psychologist, or qualified nurse practitioner who is related by blood, marriage, or domestic partnership to the person about whom the petition, application, or certificate is made.

(2) A petition, application, or certificate authorized under §§ 21-521 , 21-523 , 21-541(a) , 21-545.01 , or 21-548 may be considered if made by a psychiatrist, physician, qualified psychologist, or qualified nurse practitioner employed or contracted by the hospital in which the person is to be detained and the psychiatrist, physician, qualified psychologist, or qualified nurse practitioner may admit the person to the hospital if they certify in writing that their financial arrangement with the hospital is not based on the volume of inpatient referrals or admissions.

(b) A petition, application, or certificate of a physician, qualified psychologist, or qualified nurse practitioner may not be considered unless it is based on the personal observation and examination of the person made by the physician, qualified psychologist, or qualified nurse practitioner not more than 72 hours prior to the making of the petition, application, or certificate. The certificate shall set forth in detail the facts and reasons on which the physician, qualified psychologist, or qualified nurse practitioner based their opinions and conclusions.

Legislative History

Sept. 14, 1965, 79 Stat. 759, Pub. L. 89-183, § 1; Feb. 24, 1984, D.C. Law 5-48, § 11(a)(18), 30 DCR 5778; Apr. 4, 2003, D.C. Law 14-283, § 2(ee), 50 DCR 917; Sept. 12, 2008, D.C. Law 17-231, § 22(f), 55 DCR 6758