Opinion ID: 2069196
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Richardson Rights

Text: In Richardson, supra, this court considered whether the conditional release order for patients committed to St. Elizabeths Hospital civilly, pursuant to D.C.Code § 21-545 (1989), may authorize the patient's summary return to the Hospital for a brief period of reevaluation and treatment in the event his condition deteriorates or he fails to comply with the terms of the outpatient treatment program. Richardson, 481 A.2d at 479. This court held that the patient may be rehospitalized under such a provision provided the patient is detained only temporarily and certain procedures are followed. Id. at 483-84. Specifically, these procedures, which we deemed to be in harmony with due process, require that the Hospital provide the court and the patient's counsel with (1) an affidavit within twenty-four hours setting forth facts from which the court can find affirmatively that the patient's return for treatment is supported by probable cause; and (2) written notice to the patient and counsel that the Hospital must either release him after the fifth day of institutional care and observation, or thereafter move for a prompt adversary judicial hearing seeking the permanent revocation of his outpatient status. Id. at 480-81. We concluded that these procedures adequately guarded against the erroneous deprivation of the outpatient's interest in the continued enjoyment of his conditional release pending the disposition of the requisite medical and factual determinations. Id. at 482, 483. Appellants contend that the same principles which guided this court's decision in Richardson apply equally to individuals committed to the Hospital under D.C.Code § 24-301(d) following a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity.