Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Idaho Statutes Title 66. State Charitable Institutions § 66-346. Right to communication and visitation--Exercise of civil rights

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) Every patient shall have the following rights:

(1) To communicate by sealed mail or otherwise, with persons, inside or outside the facility and to have access to reasonable amounts of letter writing material and postage;

(2) To receive visitors at all reasonable times;

(3) To wear his own clothes; to keep and use his own personal possessions including toilet articles; to keep and be allowed to spend a reasonable sum of his own money for canteen expenses and small purchases; to have access to individual storage space for his private use;

(4) To refuse specific modes of treatment;

(5) To be visited by his attorney or any employee of his attorney's firm, or a representative of the state protection and advocacy system at any time;

(6) To exercise all civil rights, including the right to dispose of property except property described in subsection (3) above, execute instruments, make purchases, enter into contractual relationships, and vote unless limited by prior court order;

(7) To have reasonable access to all records concerning himself.

(b) Notwithstanding any limitations authorized under this section on the right of communication, every patient shall be entitled to communicate by sealed mail with the court, if any, which ordered his commitment.

(c) The director of a facility may deny a patient's rights under this section, except that the rights enumerated in subsections (a)(5) and (a)(6) of this section, shall not be denied by the director of the facility under any circumstances. Only in cases of emergency or when a court has determined that a patient lacks capacity to make informed decisions about treatment, may the director of a facility deny a patient's rights under subsection (a)(4) of this section. A statement explaining the reasons for any denial of a patient's rights shall be immediately entered in his treatment record and if the patient has been committed pursuant to court order, copies of such statement shall be submitted to the committing court and sent to the patient's spouse, guardian, adult next of kin or friend and attorney, if any.

(d) A list of the foregoing rights shall be prominently posted in all facilities and brought to the attention of the patient by such means as the board of health and welfare shall designate.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Idaho Statutes Title 66. State Charitable Institutions § 66-346. Right to communication and visitation--Exercise of civil rights - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/id/title-66-state-charitable-institutions/id-st-sect-66-346/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard