Hospitalization of nonprotesting persons

§ 21–513. Hospitalization of nonprotesting personsA friend or relative of a person believed to be suffering from a mental illness may apply on behalf of that person to the admitting psychiatrist of a hospital by presenting the person, together with a referral from a practicing physician. For the purpose of examination and treatment, a private hospital may accept a person so presented and referred, and a public hospital shall accept a person so presented and referred, if, in the judgment of the admitting psychiatrist, the need for examination and treatment is indicated on the basis of the person’s mental condition and the person signs a statement, at the time of the admission stating that he does not object to hospitalization. The statement, shall contain in simple, nontechnical language the fact that the person is to be hospitalized and a description of the right to release set out in section 21–514. The admitting psychiatrist may admit a person so presented, without referral from a practicing physician, if the need for an immediate admission is apparent to the admitting psychiatrist upon preliminary examination.