Commonwealth Ex Rel. Gibson v. DiGiacinto

OPINION OF THE COURT

O’BRIEN, Chief Justice.

Appellant, Russell Gibson, was involuntarily committed to Farview State Hospital [hereinafter “Farview”] pursuant to the Mental Health Procedures Act [hereinafter “Act”]. 1 The Superior Court affirmed the commitment on December 14, 1978. Com. ex rel Russell Gibson v. DiGiacinto, 261 Pa.Super. 53, 395 A.2d 938 (1978). We granted appellant’s petition for allowance of appeal.

As a result of his behavior in a youth home, appellant was committed to Easton Hospital under § 302 of the Act on January 14, 1977. Although he escaped the next day, appellant was…