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General Laws

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Section 1Definitions
Section 2Regulations
Section 3Transfers; notice; emergencies
Section 4Periodic review; notice
Section 5Commitment or retention hearings; right to counsel; medical examination; notice
Section 6Retention of persons; validity of orders; hearing
Section 7Commitment and retention of dangerous persons; petition; notice; hearing
Section 8Proceedings to commit dangerous persons; notice; hearing; orders; jurisdiction
Section 8A[There is no 123:8A.]
Section 8BTreatment of committed persons with antipsychotic medication; petition; notice; hearing; guardian
Section 9Review of matters of law; application for discharge; notice; hearing
Section 10Voluntary admissions; consultation with attorney; discharge; outpatients; veterans
Section 11Voluntary admissions; withdrawal; notice; examination; retention
Section 12Emergency restraint and hospitalization of persons posing risk of serious harm by reason of mental illness
Section 13Transfer of dangerous males to Bridgewater state hospital; retention period; further commitment; procedure
Section 14Transfers from Bridgewater state hospital to other facilities
Section 15Competence to stand trial or criminal responsibility; examination; period of observation; reports; hearing; commitment; delinquents
Section 16Hospitalization of persons incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of mental illness; examination period; commitment; hearing; restrictions; dismissal of criminal charges
Section 17Periodic review of incompetence to stand trial; petition; hearing; continued treatment; defense to charges; release
Section 18Hospitalization of mentally ill prisoners; examination; reports; hearing; commitment; voluntary admission; reduction of sentence; discharge
Section 18AFacility residents; contribution towards cost of counsel
Section 19Parties or witnesses; determination of mental condition
Section 20Extradition of mental institution escapees
Section 21Transportation of mentally ill persons; restraint
Section 22Civil liability of physicians, qualified psychologists, qualified psychiatric nurse mental health clinic specialists, police officers and licensed independent clinical social workers
Section 23Rights of persons receiving services from programs or facilities of department of mental health
Section 23ACompetent interpreter services in hospitals which provide acute psychiatric services
Section 24Legal capacity of persons admitted or committed
Section 25Guardian or conservator; appointment
Section 26Deposit of funds held in trust for inpatients or residents; unclaimed funds and personal property; fiduciaries
Section 27Administration of estate of deceased inpatient or resident
Section 28Violent or unnatural death of patients; notice to district attorney
Section 29Instruction and education; work programs; sale of work products
Section 30Unauthorized absence of patients; notification of police, et al.; return
Section 31Medicine and drugs; indigent patients
Section 32Charges for care of persons in facilities
Section 33Expenses of apprehension, examination, hearing, commitment or delivery; certification; audit; payment; fees
Section 34Commitment or transfer to Veterans Administration or other federal agency
Section 35Commitment of alcoholics or substance abusers
Section 36Patient records; inspection; maintenance and retention
Section 36ACourt records of examination or commitment; privacy
Section 36BDuty to warn patient’s potential victims; cause of action