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Searching 2023-2024 Session

The Vermont Statutes Online

The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.

NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.

Title 18 : Health

Chapter 189 : Release and Discharge

(Cite as: 18 V.S.A. § 8007)
  • § 8007. Conditional discharges

    (a) The Board or the head of a hospital may conditionally discharge from a hospital any patient who may be safely and properly cared for in a place other than the hospital.

    (b) A conditional discharge may extend for a term of six months, but shall not exceed 60 days unless the head of the hospital determines that a longer period will materially improve the availability of a program of treatment that is an alternative to hospitalization.

    (c) Unless sooner revoked or renewed, a conditional discharge shall become absolute at the end of its term.

    (d) A conditional discharge may be granted subject to the patient’s agreement to participate in outpatient, after-care, or follow-up treatment programs, and shall be subject to such other conditions and terms as are established by the granting authority.

    (e) Each patient granted a conditional discharge shall be provided, so far as practicable and appropriate, with continuing treatment on an outpatient or partial hospitalization basis.

    (f) Each patient granted a conditional discharge shall be given a written statement of the conditions of his or her release, the violation of which can cause revocation.

    (g) A conditional discharge may be renewed by the granting authority at any time before it becomes absolute if the head of a hospital first determines that such renewal will substantially reduce the risk that the patient will become a person in need of treatment in the near future. (Added 1977, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 32.)