A voluntary patient, including a minor under the age of sixteen, who has admitted himself to a treatment facility, or a voluntary patient’s personal representative, legal guardian, parent, spouse, or adult next of kin, or the parent or legal guardian of a minor on whose behalf admission to a treatment facility was requested, may request in writing release of the patient at any time after his admission. If the patient was admitted on his own application and the request for release is made by a person other than the patient, release may be conditional upon the consent of the patient.

The request for release may be submitted to the head of the treatment facility or to any staff person of the facility for transmittal to the head of the treatment facility. If the patient or another person on his behalf makes an oral request for release to any member of the staff, the patient must within twenty-four hours be given assistance in preparing a written request. The person to whom a written request is submitted shall deliver the request to the head of the treatment facility within twenty-four hours, Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excluded.

Within forty-eight hours of delivery of the request for release to the head of the treatment facility, the head of the treatment facility must:

(a) release the patient; or

(b) initiate proceedings for involuntary commitment by filing with the court of the county where the patient is a resident or of the county where the patient is hospitalized, a petition alleging that the patient is a chemically dependent person in need of involuntary commitment. Upon the filing of the petition with the court, release of the patient may be postponed for the commencement of judicial proceedings under § 44-52-70.