1082

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 126

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 2C — Alcoholism

302.

(a)    The treatment and rehabilitation program in the
State available to both males and females, wherever possible
utilizing the facilities of and coordinated with the
programs of community mental health centers, shall include
at least the following components:

(1) Detoxification units, to be open 24 hours
every day, which shall be located conveniently to population
centers so as to be quickly and easily accessible to
patients, to provide appropriate medical OR PARAMEDICAL
services for intoxicated persons, including initial
examination, diagnosis, and classification. Each
detoxification center, if possible, shall be affiliated
with, and constitute an integral part of, the general
medical services of a general hospital; provided, that the
center need not be physically a part of a general hospital-

303.

(b)    Any person who is intoxicated in a public place
and either incapacitated or whose health is in immediate
danger, if not handled under subsection (a), shall be taken
by the police or other authorized personnel to a
detoxification center.

(1)    A person shall be deemed incapacitated when
he is unable to make a rational decision about accepting
assistance.

(2)    Any intoxicated person may voluntarily come
to a detoxification unit for medical OR PARAMEDICAL
attention but incapacitated persons and others in immediate
medical danger shall be given priority.

(3)    The [physician] PROGRAM DIRECTOR then in
charge [(medical officer)] of the unit shall have the
authority to determine whether a person shall be admitted to
the center as a patient, or referred to another appropriate
facility for care and treatment, or denied referral or
admission. If [he] A PERSON is admitted as a patient, the
[medical officer] PROGRAM DIRECTOR shall have the authority
to require [him] THE PERSON to remain at the unit until he
is sober and no longer intoxicated or incapacitated, but in
any event no longer than 5 days after his admission as a
patient, except as provided in § 306 hereof. A patient may
consent to remain at a detoxification unit for as long as
the [medical officer] PROGRAM DIRECTOR believes warranted.
If the [medical officer] PROGRAM DIRECTOR concludes that the
person should receive treatment at a different facility
[he], THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR shall arrange for such treatment