This statute governs voluntary admission of minors to psychiatric facilities in Maryland, including non-State facilities and specific State facilities (regional institutes for children and adolescents and child/adolescent units of State facilities). A parent or guardian must submit a written application, the minor must have a treatable mental disorder, and admission must be assented to by qualified clinical staff. Admissions to child or adolescent units of State facilities are capped at 20 days.
View official source- 1 - Article - Health - General [Previous][Next] §10–610. (a) On behalf of a minor, a parent or guardian of the person of the minor may apply, under this section, for admission of the minor to: (1) Any facility that is not a State facility; or (2) The following State facilities: (i) A regional institute for children and adolescents; and (ii) The child or adolescent unit of a State facility. (b) The applicant shall submit a formal, written application that contains the personal information and is on the form required by the Administration. (c) A facility may not admit an individual under this section unless: (1) The individual has a mental disorder; (2) The mental disorder is susceptible to care or treatment; (3) The applicant understands the nature of a request for admission; and (4) Assent to the admission has been given: (i) By the admitting physician of the facility; or (ii) For a child or adolescent unit of a State facility, by: 1. 1 physician and 1 psychologist; 2. 2 physicians; 3. 1 physician and 1 psychiatric nurse practitioner; 4. 1 physician and 1 licensed certified social worker – clinical; or - 2 - 5. 1 physician and 1 licensed clinical professional counselor. (d) An admission under this section to a chi ld or adolescent unit of a State facility may not exceed 20 days. [Previous][Next]