37-3-20. Admission of voluntary patients; consent of parent or guardian to treatment; giving notice of rights to patient at time of admission.

The chief medical officer of any facility may receive for observation and diagnosis any patient 12 years of age or older making application therefor, any patient under 18 years of age for whom such application is made by his or her parent or guardian, any patient who has a psychiatric advance directive and for whom such application is made by his or her mental health care agent, and any patient who has been declared legally incompetent and for whom such application is made by his or her guardian. If found to show evidence of mental illness and to be suitable for treatment, such person may be given care and treatment at such facility; and such person may be detained by such facility until discharged pursuant to Code Section 37-3-21 or 37-3-22. The parents or guardian of a minor child must give written consent to such treatment. An individualized service plan shall be developed for such person as soon as possible.#

Any individual voluntarily admitted to a facility under this Code section shall be given notice of his or her rights under this chapter at the time of admission.#