New York Laws
Article 9 - Hospitalization of Persons With a Mental Illness
9.17 - Voluntary and Informal Admissions; Suitability.

(a) In order for a person to be suitable for admission to a hospital
as a voluntary or informal patient, or for conversion to such status he
must be notified of and have the ability to understand the following:
1. that the hospital to which he is requesting admission is a hospital
for the mentally ill.
2. that he is making an application for admission.
3. the nature of the voluntary or informal status, as the case may be
and the provisions governing release or conversion to involuntary
status.
(b) The department shall have the power to examine the patients
admitted pursuant to this section and determine if they belong to the
voluntary or informal class. If it be determined that any such patient
does not belong to the voluntary or informal class, the department shall
determine whether the patient shall be discharged or whether procedures
shall be commenced for the admission of such patient to a hospital
pursuant to other sections of this article. The decision of the
department shall be forthwith complied with by the director or person in
charge of any such hospital. Any failure to conform to the requirements
of this section shall be considered a sufficient cause for revocation of
an operating certificate theretofore issued to a hospital.

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