Throughout the court ordered evaluation and treatment process, the patient has rights and may need an advocate to ensure that they are protected.
A patient has the right to...
- A translator if English is not your main language
- Get a treatment plan
- Be assigned a case manager as your mental health advocate
- Have an attorney represent you in court
- Be involved in making your Inpatient Treatment and Discharge Plan
- Have someone represent you in making the Inpatient Treatment and Discharge Plan
Right to Judicial Review
A person placed under a court order for treatment has the right to request a judicial review 60 days after the treatment date and every 60 days thereafter. This is a way to make the court aware of any lifestyle or medical changes that have been made.
Right to Appeal
If there are legal grounds, the patient has the ability to appeal the decision for court ordered treatment. Since a filing for appeal has to be made within 30 days, the lawyer of the patient should be notified immediately after the hearing.
Max Time Period of Treatment
The maximum number of days court ordered treatment can last is 365 days. Maximum length of time for a person to be in inpatient treatment is 180 days for a persistent or acutely disability; 365 days for a grave disability.