Notice of intent to leave inpatient treatment by adolescent voluntarily admitted — Duties of receiving staff member — Time frame for discharge of adolescent.
RCW 71.34.520
in effect(1) Any adolescent voluntarily admitted to an evaluation and treatment facility or approved substance use disorder treatment program under RCW 71.34.500 may give notice of intent to leave at any time. The notice need not follow any specific form so long as it is written and the intent of the adolescent can be discerned. (2) The staff member receiving the notice shall date it immediately and record its existence in the adolescent's clinical record. (a) If the evaluation and treatment facility is providing the adolescent solely with mental health treatment and not substance use disorder treatment, copies of the notice must be sent to the adolescent's attorney, if any, the designated crisis responders, and the parent. (b) If the evaluation and treatment facility or substance use disorder treatment program is providing the adolescent with substance use disorder treatment, copies of the notice must be sent to the adolescent's attorney, if any, the designated crisis responders, and the parent only if: (i) The adolescent provides written consent to the disclosure of the adolescent's notice of intent to leave and such other substance use disorder information; or (ii) permitted by federal law. (3) The professional person shall discharge the adolescent from the facility by the second judicial day following receipt of the adolescent's notice of intent to leave.
(1) Any adolescent voluntarily admitted to an evaluation and treatment facility or approved substance use disorder treatment program under RCW 71.34.500 may give notice of intent to leave at any time. The notice need not follow any specific form so long as it is written and the intent of the adolescent can be discerned.
(2) The staff member receiving the notice shall date it immediately and record its existence in the adolescent's clinical record.
(a) If the evaluation and treatment facility is providing the adolescent solely with mental health treatment and not substance use disorder treatment, copies of the notice must be sent to the adolescent's attorney, if any, the designated crisis responders, and the parent.
(b) If the evaluation and treatment facility or substance use disorder treatment program is providing the adolescent with substance use disorder treatment, copies of the notice must be sent to the adolescent's attorney, if any, the designated crisis responders, and the parent only if: (i) The adolescent provides written consent to the disclosure of the adolescent's notice of intent to leave and such other substance use disorder information; or (ii) permitted by federal law.
(3) The professional person shall discharge the adolescent from the facility by the second judicial day following receipt of the adolescent's notice of intent to leave.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=71.34&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026