Petitions, applications, or certificates of physicians

§ 21–582. Petitions, applications, or certificates of physicians (a) A petition, application, or certificate authorized under section 21–521 and subsection (a) of section 21–541 may not be considered if made by a physician who is related by blood or marriage to the alleged mentally ill person, or who is financially interested in the hospital in which the alleged mentally ill person is to be detained, or, except in the case of physicians employed by the United States or the District of Columbia, who are professionally or officially connected with the hospital. (b) A petition, application, or certificate of a physician may not be considered unless it is based on personal observation and examination of the alleged mentally ill person made by the physician not more than 72 hours prior to the making of the petition, application, or certificate. The certificate shall set forth in detail the facts and reasons on which the physician based his opinions and conclusions.