Subject to section 410, an individual 18 years of age or over may be hospitalized as an informal voluntary patient if he or she requests hospitalization as an informal voluntary patient and if the hospital director considers the individual to be clinically suitable for that form of hospitalization. Unless the hospital requires that the request be made in writing, the individual may make the request orally.

     An informal voluntary patient shall be allowed to terminate his hospitalization and leave the hospital at any time during the normal day shift hours of the hospital, and the hospital shall so inform the patient at the time he is hospitalized. The patient shall inform the person in charge of his ward or other appropriate person of his decision to terminate his hospitalization and leave the hospital.