Transfer of patients between psychiatric hospitals

A. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, the department may transfer any patient from one psychiatric hospital to another if applicable eligibility criteria are met. Moreover, the administrator of a psychiatric hospital may request the department to transfer a patient when he believes that a transfer is necessary. (2) A patient may be transferred to or from a private psychiatric hospital only upon the joint application of the director or administrator of that hospital and of the legal guardian or the person liable for the support of the patient. However, no private psychiatric hospital shall be obligated to retain a patient because of the refusal to sign the application by the legal guardian or the person liable for support. (3) A person under sentence or acquitted of a crime on the ground of mental illness or disability shall be transferred only upon authority of the committing court. (4) A voluntary patient shall be transferred only with his written consent. B. The following documents, as applicable, shall accompany a patient upon his transfer: (1) The transfer order of the department. (2) Certified copies of the application for admission, the physician's certificate, the report of the commission, and the order of the committing court. (3) All of the patient's clinical records or a full abstract thereof, including the results of medical, physical, and laboratory examinations.