N.Y. MHY Law § 9.17

§ 9.17 Voluntary and informal admissions; suitability.\n (a) In order for a person to be suitable for admission to a hospital\nas a voluntary or informal patient, or for conversion to such status he\nmust be notified of and have the ability to understand the following:\n 1. that the hospital to which he is requesting admission is a hospital\nfor the mentally ill.\n 2. that he is making an application for admission.\n 3. the nature of the voluntary or informal status, as the case may be\nand the provisions governing release or conversion to involuntary\nstatus.\n (b) The department shall have the power to examine the patients\nadmitted pursuant to this section and determine if they belong to the\nvoluntary or informal class. If it be determined that any such patient\ndoes not belong to the voluntary or informal class, the department shall\ndetermine whether the patient shall be discharged or whether procedures\nshall be commenced for the admission of such patient to a hospital\npursuant to other sections of this article. The decision of the\ndepartment shall be forthwith complied with by the director or person in\ncharge of any such hospital. Any failure to conform to the requirements\nof this section shall be considered a sufficient cause for revocation of\nan operating certificate theretofore issued to a hospital.\n