N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law Section 9.17
Voluntary and informal admissions

  • suitability

(a)

In order for a person to be suitable for admission to a hospital as a voluntary or informal patient, or for conversion to such status he must be notified of and have the ability to understand the following:

1.

that the hospital to which he is requesting admission is a hospital for the mentally ill.

2.

that he is making an application for admission.

3.

the nature of the voluntary or informal status, as the case may be and the provisions governing release or conversion to involuntary status.

(b)

The department shall have the power to examine the patients admitted pursuant to this section and determine if they belong to the voluntary or informal class. If it be determined that any such patient does not belong to the voluntary or informal class, the department shall determine whether the patient shall be discharged or whether procedures shall be commenced for the admission of such patient to a hospital pursuant to other sections of this article. The decision of the department shall be forthwith complied with by the director or person in charge of any such hospital. Any failure to conform to the requirements of this section shall be considered a sufficient cause for revocation of an operating certificate theretofore issued to a hospital.

Source: Section 9.17 — Voluntary and informal admissions; suitability, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/MHY/9.­17 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Nov. 1, 2025).

9.01
Definitions 9.03
Admission to a hospital 9.05
Examining physicians, examining psychiatric nurse practitioners and medical certificates 9.07
Notice to all patients of their rights and of the availability of the mental hygiene legal service 9.09
Notices to mental hygiene legal service concerning minors 9.11
Patients’ records 9.13
Voluntary admissions 9.15
Informal admissions 9.17
Voluntary and informal admissions 9.19
Voluntary and informal admissions 9.21
Voluntary and informal admissions 9.23
Voluntary and informal admissions 9.25
Voluntary and informal admissions 9.27
Involuntary admission on medical certification 9.29
Involuntary admission on medical certification 9.31
Involuntary admission on medical certification 9.33
Court authorization to retain an involuntary patient 9.35
Review of court authorization to retain an involuntary patient 9.37
Involuntary admission on certificate of a director of community services or his designee 9.39
Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care, and treatment 9.40
Emergency observation, care and treatment in comprehensive psychiatric emergency programs 9.41
Emergency assessment for immediate observation, care, and treatment 9.43
Emergency assessment for immediate observation, care, and treatment 9.45
Emergency assessment for immediate observation, care, and treatment 9.46
Reports of substantial risk or threat of harm by mental health professionals 9.47
Duties of local officers in regard to their persons with a mental illness 9.48
Duties of directors of assisted outpatient treatment programs 9.49
Transfer of juvenile delinquents 9.51
Residential treatment facilities for children and youth 9.53
Children in the custody of social services officials or the division for youth 9.55
Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment 9.57
Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment 9.58
Transport for evaluation 9.59
Immunity from liability 9.60
Assisted outpatient treatment 9.63
Transportation of persons to or between hospitals 9.64
Notice of admission determination to community provider
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Nov. 1, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 9.17. Voluntary & informal admissions's source at nysenate​.gov

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