Pennsylvania Statutes Title 50 P.S. Mental Health § 4404. Commitment on application by relative, etc.; physicians' certificates; review

(a) A written application for commitment to a facility may be made in the interest of any person who appears to be mentally disabled and in need of care. It may be made by a relative, guardian, friend, individual standing in loco parentis to the person to be committed, or by the executive officer or an authorized agent of a governmental or recognized nonprofit health or welfare organization or agency or any responsible person.

(b) Such application shall be accompanied by the certificates of two physicians who have examined the person whose commitment is sought, within one week of the date of the certificates, and who have found that, in their opinion, such person is mentally disabled and in need of care. In the case of a mentally retarded person, the physician's certification shall be accompanied by the report of a psychologist. No person shall be committed hereunder if any certificate is dated more than thirty days prior to the date of commitment, except that if the mental disability consists of intellectual disability, the certificates may be dated not more than three months prior to the date of commitment. The application, certificates and the report, if any, shall be signed and sworn to or affirmed.

(c) The director may receive the person named in the application and detain him until discharge in accordance with the provisions of this act. When application is made by any person other than a relative or guardian, the director upon reception of the person named in the application shall notify the appropriate relative or guardian of such person of the commitment.

(d) Every commitment made under this section except those to the Veterans Administration or other agency of the United States Government, shall be reviewed at least annually by a committee appointed by the director from the professional staff of the facility wherein the person is detained, to determine whether continued care and commitment is necessary. Said committee shall make written recommendations to the director which shall be filed at the facility, and be open to inspection and review by the department, and such other persons as the secretary, by regulation, may permit.