59-2951. Right to discharge of voluntary patient; procedure. (a) A voluntary patient shall be entitled to be discharged from a treatment facility, by the head of the treatment facility, by no later than the third day, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after receipt of the patient's written request for discharge. If the voluntary patient is a patient in a state psychiatric hospital, that hospital shall immediately give either oral or facsimile notice to the participating mental health center serving the area where the patient intends to reside and shall consider any recommendations from that mental health center which may be received prior to the time set for discharge as specified in the notice.
(b) (1) If the voluntary patient is an adult admitted upon the application of a legal guardian or pursuant to an order of the court issued pursuant to K.S.A. 59-3077, and amendments thereto, any request for discharge must be made, in writing, by the legal guardian.
(2) If the voluntary patient is a minor, the written request for discharge shall be made by the child's parent or legal guardian except if the minor was admitted upon their own written application to become a voluntary patient made pursuant to K.S.A. 59-2949 and amendments thereto, then the minor may make the request. In the case of a minor 14 or more years of age who had made written application to become a voluntary patient on their own behalf and who has requested to be discharged, the head of the treatment facility shall promptly inform the child's parent, legal guardian, or other person known to the head of the treatment facility to be interested in the care and welfare of the minor of the minor's request for discharge.
History: L. 1996, ch. 167, § 7; L. 2002, ch. 114, § 65; July 1.
Structure Kansas Statutes
Article 29 - Care And Treatment For Mentally Ill Persons
59-2945 Name and citation of act.
59-2948 Civil rights of persons subject to the provisions of this act.
59-2950 Discharge of a voluntary patient.
59-2951 Right to discharge of voluntary patient; procedure.
59-2952 Petition for involuntary commitment of a voluntary patient.
59-2953 Investigation; emergency detention; authority and duty of law enforcement officers.
59-2954 Emergency observation and treatment; authority of treatment facility's procedure.
59-2955 Notice of right to communicate upon admission; notice of admission; notice of rights.
59-2956 Emergency observation; discharge.
59-2958 Ex parte emergency custody order.
59-2959 Temporary custody order; request for; procedure.
59-2960 Preliminary orders; continuances and advancement of trial.
59-2961 Order for a mental evaluation; procedure.
59-2962 Mental evaluation; hearing in noncustodial circumstances.
59-2964 Continuance of hearings; order of referral for short-term treatment.
59-2965 Trial upon the petition; procedure.
59-2966 Order for treatment; dismissal.
59-2968 Admissions to a state psychiatric hospital; moratorium; procedure.
59-2969 Hearing to review status of patient; procedure.
59-2972 Transfer by secretary for aging and disability services.
59-2974 Notice of discharge; restoration of certain rights.
59-2975 Unauthorized absence; procedure.
59-2976 Administration of medications and other treatments.
59-2977 Restraints; seclusion.
59-2979 Disclosure of records.
59-2980 Civil and criminal liability.
59-2981 Costs; payment by residence county, when.
59-2982 Notice of death of patients in treatment facilities.
59-2983 Applicability to persons in custody on criminal charges.