Pennsylvania Statutes Title 50 P.S. Mental Health § 4423. Rights of persons admitted or committed

(1) To communicate with and to be alone at any interview with his counsel or representative of the department, and to send sealed communications to the director, any member of his family, the department, the court, if any, which committed him, and the Governor.

(2) To religious freedom, and to be visited by a clergyman. Religious ministration rendered by a clergyman shall be personal to the person desiring the same and shall not interfere with the established order of religious services available in the institution. In the discretion of the director, he may exclude any particular minister or prohibit any religious ministration or service, if such interferes with the administration or security of the facility, or with the general welfare, care and treatment of any person admitted or committed.

(3) To be employed at a useful occupation in so far as the condition of the patient may benefit therefrom and the facility is able to furnish useful employment to such person.

(4) In the discretion of the director, to sell articles, the product of such person's individual skill and labor, and the produce of any small individual plot of ground which may be assigned to and cultivated by him, and to keep or expend the proceeds thereof or send the same to his family.

(5) To be furnished with writing materials and reasonable opportunity, in the discretion of the director, for communicating with any person outside of the institution. Communications shall be stamped and mailed.

(6) To be released as soon as care and treatment in a facility is no longer necessary.

(7) To request the department to arrange for the examination of such person's mental condition by a physician not associated with the department. The department may refuse to grant such request only when it is made sooner than six months after such person's admission or commitment or sooner than one year after a previous examination hereunder.