Patient rights; notice to all patients of their rights

§ 22.03 Patient rights; notice to all patients of their rights.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law including but not limited to the election law, no person's rights as a citizen of the United States or of the state of New York shall be forfeited or abridged because of such person's participation in chemical dependence programs, treatment facilities or services. Such participation shall include but is not limited to the certification as substance dependent of a person to the care and custody of the office under previously existing provisions of law. The fact, proceedings, application, or treatment relating to a person's participation in chemical dependence programs, treatment facilities, or services shall not be used against such person in any action or proceeding in any court.

(b) Immediately upon the admission of any patient to a chemical dependence program, service, or treatment facility, the director of such program, service, or facility, or his or her designee, shall inform the patient in writing of his or her status, including the section of this chapter under which he or she is admitted, and of his or her rights under this article.

(c) The director of every chemical dependence program, service, or treatment facility shall post copies of a notice in a form and manner to be determined by the commissioner, at places throughout the facility or program where such notice shall be conspicuous and visible to all patients, stating the following:

1. a general statement of the rights of patients under the various admission or retention provisions of this article; and

2. the right of the patient to communicate with the director, the board of visitors, if any, and the commissioner.