In re Josephs

OPINION OF THE COURT

Lewis R. Friedman, J.

When it revised the Mental Hygiene Law the Legislature carefully created a class of "voluntary” patients in the psychiatric hospitals of this State. This case presents yet another instance where Bronx Psychiatric Center (the Hospital) has proven irresponsible in its treatment of "voluntary” patients whom the Hospital seeks to convert to involuntary status.

*188In this case the patient was admitted on a voluntary basis on January 26, 1989; he sought release pursuant to Mentál Hygiene Law § 9.13. The Hospital filed an application for conversion to involuntary…