Section 37-3-90. Physician's or psychologist's determination and certification as to necessity of involuntary care; treatment of patient as inpatient or outpatient; minors

   (a) When a physician or psychologist at a facility or on behalf of a facility determines and certifies under this article that there is reason to believe a patient admitted to or examined at the facility is a mentally ill person requiring involuntary treatment, that physician or psychologist shall further determine and certify whether there is reason to believe the patient is:

   (1) An inpatient or outpatient; and

   (2) If an outpatient, whether there is available outpatient treatment.

(b) Unless otherwise specifically provided, the determination and certification as to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be made within the time period required for determining whether a patient is a mentally ill person requiring involuntary treatment, except that if such determination is made by a physician or psychologist at or on behalf of a community mental health center, the determination and certification shall be made within four hours after the patient is examined by the physician or psychologist.

(c) A person determined and certified to be:

   (1) An outpatient; and

   (2) A person for whom there is available outpatient treatment

shall be considered to be in need of involuntary outpatient treatment and not involuntary inpatient treatment for purposes of further proceedings under this article until such time as that person's status is determined to be otherwise pursuant to those proceedings.

(d) A person determined and certified to be a mentally ill person requiring involuntary treatment who does not meet all of the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c) of this Code section shall be considered to be in need of involuntary inpatient treatment and not involuntary outpatient treatment for purposes of further proceedings under this article until such time as that person's status is determined to be otherwise pursuant to those proceedings.

(e) Any minor admitted voluntarily shall be released at any time after written request is made by the minor's parent or legal guardian.

Code 1981, § 37-3-90, enacted by Ga. L. 1986, p. 1098, § 5; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1902, § 8; Ga. L. 1995, p. 612, § 1.