Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 79.djvu/794

 754

PUBLIC LAW 89-183-SEPT. 14, 1965

[79 STAT.

authorizing the continued hospitalization of the person for emergency observation and diagnosis for a period not to exceed 7 days from the time the order is entered. § 21-524. Determination and order of court (a) Within a period of 24 hours after the court receives a petition for hospitalization of a person for emergency observation and diagnosis, filed by the administrator of a hospital pursuant to section 21-523, the court shall: (1) order the hospitalization; or (2) order the person's immediate release, (b) The court, in making its determination under this section, shall consider the written reports of the agent, officer, or physician who made the application under section 21-522, the certificate of the examining psychiatrist which accompanied it, and any other relevant information. §21-525. Hearing by court The court shall grant a hearing to. a person whose continued hospitalization is ordered under section 21-524, if he requests the hearing. The hearing shall be held within 24 hours after receipt of the request. § 21-526. Extension of maximum periods of time If the maximum period of time prescribed by section 21-512,21-523, 21-524, or 21-525, during which an action or determination may or shall be taken, expires on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period may be extended to not later than noon of the next succeeding day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. § 21-527. Examination and release of person; notice The chief of service of a hospital in which a person is hospitalized under a court order entered pursuant to section 21-524 shall, within 48 hours after the order is entered, have the person examined by a physician. If the physician, after his examination, certifies that m his opinion the person is not mentally ill to the extent that he is likely to injure himself or others if not presently detained, the person shall be immediately released. The chief of service shall, within 48 hours after the examination has been completed, send a copy of the results thereof by certified or registered mail to the spouse, parents, attornej^, legal guardian, or nearest known adult relative of the person examined. § 21-528. Detention of person pending judicial proceedings Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the administrator of a hospital in which a person is hospitalized under this subchapter may, if judicial proceedings for his hospitalization have been commenced under subchapter IV of this chapter, detain the person in the hospital during the course of the judicial proceedings. Subchapter IV—Hospitalization Under Court Order § 21-541. Petition to Commission; copy to person affected (a) Proceedings for the judicial hospitalization of a person in the District of Columbia may be commenced by the filing of a petition with the Commission on Mental Health by his spouse, parent, or legal guardian, by a physician, by a duly accredited officer or agent of the Department of Public Health, or by an officer authorized to make arrests in the District of Columbia. The petition shall be accompanied by: (1) a certificate of a physician stating that he has examined the person and is of the opinion that the person is mentally ill, and because of the illness is likely to injure himself or other persons if allowed to remain at liberty; or

�