Marvin Mandel, Governor                            951

if any other person is entitled to such assets. If no such person is
found, the patient's account at the facility shall be paid, insofar
as possible, from such assets, and the balance, if any, shall be cred-
ited to the general funds of the State.

(b) No action may be brought after the expiration of three years
from the date of death or escape of a patient to recover any assets
of such patient, remaining at the facility, or in the custody of the
facility. This subsection shall not be construed to waive any defense
available, including the defense of governmental immunity to any
facility or other state agency, whether the action is brought within
three years of the death or escape of the patient or not.

48.    Open.

49.    Open.

Subtitle: Patients' Rights.

50.    Written and telephonic communications and visits.

(a)  Every patient in every Veterans' Administration Hospital
or facility licensed by or under the jurisdiction of the Department
shall at all reasonable times have available to him writing instru-
ments, stationery and postage, and may use such material to cor-
respond with anyone, subject to such reasonable limitations as may
be imposed by the facility. All correspondence shall be forwarded
to the addressee without delay and without being opened except
under the direction of the addressee. When, for medical or admin-
istrative reasons, limitations are imposed by the facility, such
limitations must be made a permanent part of the patient's record
and must be signed by a physician.

(b)   When, in the opinion of an attending physician, the condi-
tion of a patient requires the presence of another, when a patient
utilizes writing instruments, such presence shall be permitted, if
noted on the patient's record and signed by the physician.

(c)  Every patient in every Veterans' Administration Hospital or
facility licensed by or under the jurisdiction of the Department
shall, at all reasonable hours, have access to telephones and shall
be permitted to telephone any person who has advised the facility,
in writing, of his willingness to receive such telephone communica-
tions. When, for medical or administrative reasons, patients are
prohibited from having telephone communications, such prohibition
must be made a permanent part of the patient's record and must
be signed by a physician.

(d) Every patient in every facility licensed by or under the juris-
diction of the Department shall be entitled to receive visits from
an attorney or clergyman of his choice at all reasonable hours. Each
facility shall establish reasonable visiting hours for all other persons
who may visit the patient if the patient desires to see them.

When medically justified, a patient may be restricted from receiv-
ing visitors, other than his attorney or clergyman, if such restric-
tion is made a permanent part of his patient records and is signed
by a physician. Refusals of patients to see visitors shall also be made
permanent parts of patient records.