Delaware Code
Chapter 50. INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL CONDITIONS; DISCHARGE; PROCEDURE
§ 5018. Discharge of patients from hospitals.

(a) Hospitals shall examine every involuntary patient and voluntary patient present in its facility as frequently as practicable, but not less often than every 3 months. If pursuant to such examination a person's treating psychiatrist determines that a person no longer satisfies the criteria for involuntary hospitalization pursuant to the emergency detention, provisional admission or involuntary court commitment sections of this chapter, or as established for voluntary treatment under § 5003(a) of this title, the patient shall be discharged. A person involuntarily hospitalized pursuant to the emergency detention, provisional admission or involuntary court commitment sections of this chapter may be discharged pursuant to this subsection without further order of the court.
(b) The certificate of discharge shall state the basis for the discharge. Prior to discharge, the hospital shall prepare a written continuing care plan developed in consultation with interdisciplinary staff, identified post-discharge community mental health providers and the patient, and, if the patient is a minor, with the patient's parent or legal guardian. At a minimum, community-based services staff shall be consulted prior to the discharge of patients in hospitals. The continuing care plan shall be consistent with the discharge planning requirements set out in § 5161 of this title, the Mental Health Patients' Bill of Rights. The continuing care plan shall include:

Structure Delaware Code

Delaware Code

Title 16 - Health and Safety

Chapter 50. INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL CONDITIONS; DISCHARGE; PROCEDURE

§ 5001. Definitions.

§ 5002. Determination of mental condition and of procedural compliance as prerequisites to involuntary hospitalization.

§ 5003. Voluntary admission procedure.

§ 5004. Emergency detention of a person with a mental condition; justification; procedure.

§ 5005. Provisional hospitalization by psychiatrist's certification.

§ 5006. Duties of hospital upon provisional admission.

§ 5007. Procedural rights of involuntary patients.

§ 5008. Probable cause complaint.

§ 5009. Probable cause hearing.

§ 5010. Discharge by the hospital.

§ 5011. Involuntary inpatient commitment hearing and procedure.

§ 5012. Waiver of rights; voluntary hospitalization.

§ 5013. Involuntary outpatient treatment over objection.

§ 5014. Appeal; habeas corpus; rules of procedure.

§ 5015. Enlargement of time.

§ 5016. Payment of transportation and medical costs.

§ 5017. Immunity.

§ 5018. Discharge of patients from hospitals.

§ 5019. Liability for maintenance of patient; collection remedies.

§ 5020. Expenses of examination and removal of indigent patients.

§ 5021. Veterans Administration hospitals.

§ 5022. Return of patients; order; notice; custody.

§ 5023. Unwarranted hospitalization in Delaware Psychiatric Center or denial of rights; penalties.

§ 5024. Examinations of persons relative to parole, pardon or commutation of sentence in case of certain crimes.

§ 5025. Minors.

§ 5026. Additional facilities for adults.