KRS 645.030: Voluntary admission to hospital -- Transport from originating hospital to

receiving hospital or psychiatric facility.

(1) An authorized staff physician may admit for observation, diagnosis, and treatment

at a hospital any child who is mentally ill or has symptoms of mental illness:

(a) Upon written application of a parent or other person exercising custodial

control or supervision, if the child is under sixteen (16) years of age. At or

before the child's admission, the child, parent, or other person shall be

informed of his or her rights under KRS 645.230 and 645.240. Any child

admitted under this subsection who reaches his or her sixteenth birthday while

hospitalized shall consent to his or her continued hospitalization or shall

request his or her release. If the child fails to choose, the hospital shall advise

the court -designated worker and the parent or other person exercising

custodial control or supervision;

(b) Upon written application by a child who is at least sixteen (16) years of age

and one (1) of his or her parents or a person exercising custodial control or

supervision. At or before admission, the child shall be informed of his or her

right to give notice of his or her intent to leave under KRS 645.190 and his or

her right to consul t an attorney or his or her court -designated worker under

KRS 645.130. The child may consult an attorney prior to his or her admission;

or

(c) Upon written application by a child who is at least sixteen (16) years of age.

At or before admission, the child shall be informed of his or her rights under

KRS 645.190 and his or her parents' rights under KRS 645.220, 645.230 and

645.240.

(2) (a) A child who presents or is voluntarily admitted to a hospital with symptoms of

mental illness may be transported from an originating hospital to a receiving

hospital or psychiatric facility upon the:

1. Order of an authorized staff physician of the originating hospital and an

authorized staff physician of a receiving hospital or psychiatric facility;

and

2. Submission by th e child or the child's parent or other person exercising

custodial control or supervision, if the child is under sixteen (16) years

of age, of a signed written agreement to be voluntarily transported.

(b) 1. If the agreed -upon transport from an originating hospital has been

initiated, the child with a signed written agreement to be voluntarily

transported under this subsection shall not be physically released upon

his or her request or the request of the child's parent or other person

exercising custodial c ontrol or supervision, if the child is under sixteen

(16) years of age, during the transport to the receiving hospital or

psychiatric facility.

2. After the child has been received by the receiving hospital or psychiatric

facility, the child shall be released upon the child or the child's parent or

other person exercising custodial control or supervision, if the child is

under sixteen (16) years of age, submitting a signed written release

request, unless the child is further detained by court order.