Section 22-52-53 Discharge of individual admitted voluntarily - Request by parent, etc. - Alabama Statutes

Section 22-52-53

Discharge of individual admitted voluntarily - Request by parent, etc.

A mentally retarded individual admitted voluntarily, whose discharge is requested in writing by his parent, guardian or adult next of kin who signed the application, shall be discharged within 15 days of receipt of such written request by the superintendent; except, that if, in the superintendent's opinion, the discharge of the individual would be unsafe, he shall file with the probate court of the individual's residence a certificate stating that, in his opinion, the discharge of the mentally retarded individual would be unsafe for the individual and others, and setting forth the facts upon which such opinion is based, a copy being sent by registered or certified mail to the individual's parent, legal guardian or adult next of kin. Such certification shall be deemed to be a certificate of a physician and an application for an involuntary order to the care of the said individual as provided for in Section 22-52-55, and proceedings shall be had thereon as provided in said Section 22-52-55. The individual shall remain at the same institution as designated by the probate judge pending disposition of the proceeding.

(Acts 1969, No. 774, p. 1384, §4.)