N.Y. MHY Law § 22.03

§ 22.03 Patient rights; notice to all patients of their rights.\n (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law including but not\nlimited to the election law, no person's rights as a citizen of the\nUnited States or of the state of New York shall be forfeited or abridged\nbecause of such person's participation in chemical dependence programs,\ntreatment facilities or services. Such participation shall include but\nis not limited to the certification as substance dependent of a person\nto the care and custody of the office under previously existing\nprovisions of law. The fact, proceedings, application, or treatment\nrelating to a person's participation in chemical dependence programs,\ntreatment facilities, or services shall not be used against such person\nin any action or proceeding in any court.\n (b) Immediately upon the admission of any patient to a chemical\ndependence program, service, or treatment facility, the director of such\nprogram, service, or facility, or his or her designee, shall inform the\npatient in writing of his or her status, including the section of this\nchapter under which he or she is admitted, and of his or her rights\nunder this article.\n (c) The director of every chemical dependence program, service, or\ntreatment facility shall post copies of a notice in a form and manner to\nbe determined by the commissioner, at places throughout the facility or\nprogram where such notice shall be conspicuous and visible to all\npatients, stating the following:\n 1. a general statement of the rights of patients under the various\nadmission or retention provisions of this article; and\n 2. the right of the patient to communicate with the director, the\nboard of visitors, if any, and the commissioner.\n