§ 7503 — Application for voluntary admission

(a) Any person 14 years of age or over may apply for voluntary admission to a designated hospital or psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth for examination and treatment.
(b) Before the person may be admitted as a voluntary patient, the person shall give consent in writing on a form adopted by the Department. The consent shall include a representation that:
(1) the person understands that treatment will involve inpatient status or residence at a psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth;
(2) the person desires to be admitted to a hospital or a psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth, respectively;
(3) the person consents to admission voluntarily, without any coercion or duress; and
(4) the person understands that inpatient treatment or residence at a psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth may be on a locked unit, and a requested discharge may be deferred if the treating physician determines that the person is a person in need of treatment pursuant to section 7101 of this title.
(c) If the person is under 14 years of age, the person may be admitted as a voluntary patient if the person consents to admission, as provided in subsection (b) of this section, and if a parent or guardian makes written application. (Added 1967, No. 305 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1968; amended 1977, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2021, No. 30, § 1; 2023, No. 137 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. July 1, 2024.)