Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 76A.djvu/454

–358– -358§ 1644. Right to communicate and receive visitors; exercise of civil rights (a) Subject to the general rules and regulations of the hospital and, with respect to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, except to the extent that the head of the hospital determines that it is necessary for the medical welfare of the patient to impose restrictions, every patient may: (1) communicate by sealed mail or otherwise with persons, including official agencies, inside or outside the hospital; (2) receive visitors; and (3) exercise all civil rights including, but not limited to, the right to dispose of property, execute instruments, make purchases, enter contractual relationships, and vote, unless he has been adjudicated incompetent and has not been restored to legal capacity. (b) Notwithstanding any limitations authorized by this section on t he right of communication, every patient may communicate by sealed mail with the health director, the Governor of the Canal Zone, and, if admitted pursuant to section 1637 of this title, with the judge of the district court who ordered his hospitalization. (c) Any limitations imposed by the head of a hospital on the exercise of these rights by a patient and the reasons for the limitations shall be made a part of the clinical record of the patient. § 1645. Transfer of patients generally The health director may transfer a patient from one hospital to another if the health director determines that it would be consistent with the medical needs of the patient to do so. When a patient is transferred, written notice thereof shall be given to any one of the following persons: the patient's legal guardian, parent or parents, spouse, or next of kin, or, if none is known, to any other interested party, and, if the patient was hospitalized pursuant to section 1637 of this title, to the judge of the district court. § 1646. Release on convalescent status The head of a hospital may release a patient on convalescent status when he believes that that status is in the best interest of the patient. Convalescent status shall, as far as practicable, include provisions for continuing responsibility to and by the hospital, and for a plan of treatment on an outpatient basis or under the direction of a licensed physician. Periodically, at intervals consistent with good medical practice and with thenexisting circumstances, the head of the hospital shall re-examine the facts relating to the condition of the patient on a convalescent status and, if he determines that hospitalization is no longer necessary, he shall discharge the patient. § 1647. Readmission Prior to discharge, the head of the hospital from which a patient is given convalescent status may at any time readmit the patient. If there is reason to believe that it is in the best interests of the patient to be rehospitalized, the health director or the head of the hospital may issue an order for the immediate rehospitalization of the patient. Such an order, if not voluntarily complied with, shall, upon the indorsement by the judge of the district court or by a magistrate in the Canal Zone, authorize any peace officer to take the patient into custody and transport him to the hospital. § 1648. Disclosure of information; penalties (a) All certificates, applications, records and reports, other than an order of the court, made for the purposes of this chapter, and directly or indirectly identifying a patient or former patient or an

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