mental health law

When a patient is incapable of giving consent by reason of mental illness, a licensed mental health hospital may request permission to administer psychiatric medication over the patient's objection. In some states, the patient must pose a danger to self or others to justify treatment over objection.

Involuntary civil commitment is the admission of individuals against their will into a mental health unit. Generally speaking, there are three reasons why an individual would be subject to involuntary civil commitment under modern statutes: mental illness, developmental disability, and substance addiction. In the case of mental illness, dangerousness to self or others defines the typical commitment standard, with almost all states construing the inability to provide for one's basic needs as dangerousness to self.