Page 2230 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

believes that a client lacks competency to make
informed decisions, action should be initiated to
determine whether a legal guardian or substitute
decision-maker needs to be appointed by the court.
D. Release from the hospital
1. Description
a. In some, but not all, jurisdictions, a
client may be released voluntarily,
against medical advice, or with
conditions (conditional release). It is
important to be familiar with the laws
in the area in which you work
regarding conditional release.

b. A client who has sought

voluntary admission has the right to
receive release upon request.
2. Voluntary release
a. In the absence of an act of self-harm or
danger to others, a voluntary client
should never be detained.
b. If a voluntary client wishes to be
discharged from treatment, but is
considered potentially dangerous to
self or others, the PHCP can order the
client to be detained while legal
proceedings for involuntary status are
sought. In other areas, the PHCP
places them on a 72-hour hold while
further evaluation occurs.
c. Some states provide for conditional
release of involuntarily hospitalized
clients; this enables the treating PHCP
to prescribe continued treatment on an
outpatient basis as opposed to
discharging the client to follow up on
her or his own initiative. Community
treatment orders may also be instituted
depending on the facility and on the
area.
d. Conditional release usually involves
outpatient treatment for a specified
period to determine the client’s
compliance with medication protocol,
ability to meet basic needs, and ability
to reintegrate into the community.

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