Exercise of property and other rights; notice of inability; persons hospitalized prior to September 15, 1964

§ 21–564. Exercise of property and other rights; notice of inability; persons hospitalized prior to September 15, 1964 (a) A patient hospitalized pursuant to this chapter may not, by reason of the hospitalization, be denied the right to dispose of property, execute instruments, make purchases, enter into contractual relationships, vote, and hold a driver’s license, unless the patient has been adjudicated incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction and has not been restored to legal capacity. If the chief of service of the public or private hospital in which the patient is hospitalized is of the opinion that the patient is unable to exercise any of the rights referred to in this section, the chief of service shall immediately notify the patient and the patient’s attorney, legal guardian, spouse, parents, or other nearest known adult relative, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the Commission on Mental Health, and the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia of that fact. (b) A person in the District of Columbia who, by reason of a judicial decree ordering his hospitalization entered prior to September 15, 1964, is considered to be mentally incompetent, and is denied the right to dispose of property, execute instruments, make purchases, enter into 79 Stat. 759contractual relationships, vote, or hold a driver’s license solely by reason of the decree? shall, upon the expiration of the one-year period immediately following September 15, 1964, be deemed to have been restored to legal capacity unless, within the one-year period, affirmative action is commenced to have the person adjudicated mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction: Provided, however, That in those cases in which a committee has heretofore been appointed and the committeeship has not been terminated by court action, such committee shall continue to act under the supervision of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia under its equity powers.