Elderly persons shall also have the following rights when they are admitted voluntarily or involuntarily to a residential or medico-hospital establishment:(a) In every process of voluntary admission to medico-hospital institutions, convalescent homes, substitute homes or a residential service of any nature, elderly persons shall receive all legal, procedural and substantive guarantees from their family, tutor, agency or professional in whose charge they are as any other citizen would have.(b) Such rights shall be guaranteed in practice throughout the entire treatment period, its termination and its followup.(c) In cases of involuntary admission, the elderly person shall be entitled to:(1) Request the director to grant and conduct a hearing to discuss the confinement. The establishment shall provide the needed means of communication.(2) That the involuntary confinement is not extended beyond the time stipulated by the corresponding laws and regulations in tune [sic] with their treatment.(3) Request to be present at and attend medical or legal hearings.(4) Receive the visits of and consult with lawyers personally, by mail, telephone or any other legitimate means of communication.(5) .(3) Request to be present at and attend medical or legal hearings.(4) Receive the visits of and consult with lawyers personally, by mail, telephone or any other legitimate means of communication.(5) Contract the services of a lawyer, or request them from the court, the Legal Services Corporation or the Legal Aid Society, if indigent.(6) Have an independent expert to evaluate the case and, if unable to remunerate him/her, request it from the corresponding agency which shall provide the service. History —July 12, 1986, No. 121, p. 389, § 5.
Puerto Rico Legal Code