When a petition has been filed seeking to commit any person to the custody of the Alabama Department of Public Health, the probate judge shall order such person to appear at the places and times designated for hearing the petition, and may order the person to appear at designated times and places to be examined by licensed physicians. If the respondent does not appear as ordered by the probate judge, the probate judge may order the sheriff of the county in which the person is located to take the respondent into custody and compel his attendance as ordered by the probate judge.