N.Y. MHY Law § 22.07

§ 22.07 Informal admission.\n For purposes of this chapter, the director of any chemical dependence\nprogram or treatment facility may receive therein as a patient any\nperson found by such director to be suitable for, and in need of, such\ncare and treatment and requesting admission thereto, provided however,\nthat nothing in this section shall be construed to guarantee\nreimbursement for such treatment.\n (a) Such person may be admitted as a patient without making formal or\nwritten application therefor, and any such person shall be discharged\nfrom such program or facility upon his or her request at any time after\nadmission, provided, however, that such action may have other legal or\nfiscal consequences pursuant to other state and federal laws, and\nprovided further that minors shall be admitted and discharged in\naccordance with section 22.11 of this article.\n (b) Participation in chemical dependence treatment is voluntary. The\noffice or any chemical dependence program or treatment facility shall\nnot force or otherwise coerce any person to participate in such program\nor treatment, provided however that receipt of emergency services for\nincapacitated persons shall be governed in accordance with section 22.09\nof this article, and provided further, a person's failure to complete\ntreatment required by judicial mandate may have legal consequences under\nthe terms of such mandate.\n (c) The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations and take\nany other necessary action to insure that the rights of individuals who\nhave received or are receiving chemical dependence services are\nprotected.\n