59-2955. Notice of right to communicate upon admission; notice of admission; notice of rights.

59-2955

Chapter 59.--PROBATE CODE
Article 29.--CARE AND TREATMENT FOR MENTALLY ILL PERSONS

      59-2955.   Notice of right to communicate uponadmission; notice ofadmission; notice of rights.(a) Whenever any person is involuntarilyadmitted to or detained at a treatment facility pursuant to subsection (b) or(c) ofK.S.A. 59-2954 and amendments thereto, or pursuant to an exparte emergencycustody order issued pursuant toK.S.A. 59-2958 and amendmentsthereto, the head of the treatment facility shall:

      (1)   Immediately advise the person in custody that such personis entitled to immediately contact the person's legal counsel,legal guardian, personal physician or psychologist, minister of religion,including aChristian Science practitioneror immediate family as defined in subsection (b) orany combination thereof. If the person desires to make suchcontact, the head of the treatment facility shall make availableto the person reasonable means for making such immediatecommunication;

      (2)   provide notice of the person's involuntary admissionincluding a copy of the document authorizing the involuntaryadmission to that person's attorney or legal guardian,immediately upon learning of the existence and whereabouts ofsuch attorney or legal guardian, unless that attorney or legalguardian was the person who signed the application resulting inthe patient's admission. If authorized by the patient pursuant toK.S.A. 65-5601 through 65-5605 and amendments thereto, the headof the treatment facility also shall provide notice to thepatient's immediate family, as defined in subsection (b),immediately upon learning of the existence and whereabouts ofsuch family, unless the family member to be notified was theperson who signed the application resulting in the patient'sadmission; and

      (3)   immediately advise the person in custody of such person'srights provided for inK.S.A. 59-2978 and amendments thereto.

      (b)   "Immediate family" means the spouse, adult child or children,parent or parents, and sibling or siblings, or any combination thereof.

      History:   L. 1996, ch. 167, § 11;L. 1998, ch. 134, § 42; July 1.