CODE OF VIRGINIA

DISCHARGE OF INDIVIDUALS FROM A LICENSED HOSPITAL (§ 37.2-838)

The person in charge of a licensed hospital may discharge any individual
involuntarily admitted who is recovered or, if not recovered, whose discharge
will not be detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to the individual, or
who meets other criteria as specified in § 37.2-837. Prior to discharging any
individual who has not executed an advance directive, the person in charge of a
licensed hospital or his designee shall give to the individual a written
explanation of the procedures for executing an advance directive in accordance
with the Health Care Decisions Act (§ 54.1-2981 et seq.) and an advance
directive form, which may be the form set forth in § 54.1-2984. The person in
charge of the licensed hospital may refuse to discharge any individual
involuntarily admitted, if, in his judgment, the discharge will be detrimental
to the public welfare or injurious to the individual. The person in charge of a
licensed hospital may grant a trial or home visit to an individual in accordance
with regulations adopted by the Board.

HISTORY: 1968, c. 477, § 37.1-99; 1976, c. 671; 1980, cc. 582, 583; 2005, c.
716; 2012, cc. 476, 507; 2016, c. 688.