In re Barnhill

HEDRICK, Chief Judge.

N.C. Gen. Stat. Chap. 122, Article 5A, establishes the procedures to be followed in involuntary commitment of the mentally ill to inpatient mental health facilities. G.S. 122-58.3 sets out the mechanism by which a “person who has knowledge of a mentally ill . . . person” may petition a district court magistrate for “issuance of an order to take the respondent into custody for examination by a qualified physician.” G.S. 122-58.4(bl) details the nature and extent of the examination; G.S. 122-58.6 specifies that, following examination, the physician shall determine which of…