632.155. Release of voluntary minor patients, consent required--may be involuntarily detained, when, procedure. - Missouri Statutes

Release of voluntary minor patients, consent required--may beinvoluntarily detained, when, procedure.

632.155. 1. A voluntary patient who is a minor and whorequests his release either orally or in writing, or whoserelease is requested in writing to the head of the facility byhis parent, spouse, adult next of kin, or person entitled to hiscustody, shall be released immediately; except, that if thepatient was admitted on the application of another person, hisrelease shall be conditioned upon receiving the consent of theperson applying for his admission.

2. If the head of the mental health facility determines thatthe minor is mentally disordered and, as a result, presents alikelihood of serious physical harm to himself or others, thehead of the facility may refuse the release. The mental healthfacility may detain the minor only if a mental healthcoordinator, a licensed physician, a mental health professionalor a registered professional nurse designated by the facility andapproved by the department completes an application for detentionfor evaluation and treatment to begin the involuntary detentionof the minor under this chapter or, if appropriate, the minor isdetained in the facility under the provisions of chapter 211,RSMo.

(L. 1980 H.B. 1724)