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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE |
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Title 7. MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION |
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Subtitle C. TEXAS MENTAL HEALTH CODE |
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Chapter 576. RIGHTS OF PATIENTS |
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Subchapter A. GENERAL RIGHTS |
Sec. 576.006. RIGHTS SUBJECT TO LIMITATION
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(a) A patient in an inpatient mental health facility has the right to:
(1) receive visitors;
(2) communicate with a person outside the facility by telephone and by uncensored and sealed mail; and
(3) communicate by telephone and by uncensored and sealed mail with legal counsel, the department, the courts, and the state attorney general.
(b) The rights provided in Subsection (a) are subject to the general rules of the facility. The physician ultimately responsible for the patient's treatment may also restrict a right only to the extent that the restriction is necessary to the patient's welfare or to protect another person but may not restrict the right to communicate with legal counsel, the department, the courts, or the state attorney general.
(c) If a restriction is imposed under this section, the physician ultimately responsible for the patient's treatment shall document the clinical reasons for the restriction and the duration of the restriction in the patient's clinical record. That physician shall inform the patient and, if appropriate, the patient's parent, managing conservator, or guardian of the clinical reasons for the restriction and the duration of the restriction.