Source: https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/maine/me-statutes/maine_revised_statutes_title_15_107
Timestamp: 2019-08-21 14:39:42
Document Index: 251754545

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', '§ 107', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1']

» Maine Revised Statutes Title 15 Sec. 107 – Involuntary medication of patientLawServer
Maine Revised Statutes > Title 15 > Part 1 > Chapter 5 > § 107
Maine Revised Statutes Title 15 Sec. 107 – Involuntary medication of patient
A. “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner’s designee. [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
B. “Department” means the Department of Health and Human Services. [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
C. “Patient” means a person held in a hospital under section 101-D or 103. [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
D. “Psychiatrist” includes a physician assistant working under the supervision of a psychiatrist and a psychiatric nurse practitioner. [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 15 Sec. 107
B. A psychiatrist has determined that, as a result of the patient’s mental illness or disorder, the patient poses a substantial risk of harm to self or others or there is a reasonable certainty that the patient will suffer severe physical or mental harm as manifested by recent behavior demonstrating an inability to avoid risk or to protect the patient adequately from impairment or injury; [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
C. A psychiatrist has determined that the patient should be treated with psychiatric medication and has prescribed one or more psychiatric medications for the treatment of the patient’s mental illness or disorder, has considered the risks and benefits of and treatment alternatives to involuntary medication and has determined that the need for treatment outweighs the risks and side effects; [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
E. The patient is provided a hearing before a hearing officer. The hearing must be held not more than 14 days after the filing of the notice by the hospital pursuant to paragraph G with the department’s office of administrative hearings, unless counsel for the patient agrees to extend the date of the hearing; [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
F. The patient is provided counsel at the department’s expense at least 7 days prior to the hearing under paragraph E; [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
(1) Set forth the patient’s diagnosis, the factual basis for the diagnosis, the basis upon which psychiatric medication is recommended, the expected benefits, potential side effects and risks of the medication to the patient and treatment alternatives to medication, if any;
(3) Inform the patient of the patient’s right to file an appeal in Superior Court of a decision of the commissioner authorizing involuntary treatment.
Failure of the hospital to provide timely or adequate notice pursuant to this paragraph may be excused only upon a showing of good cause and the absence of prejudice to the patient. In making this determination, the hearing officer may consider factors including, but not limited to, the ability of the patient’s counsel to prepare the case adequately and to confer with the patient, the continuity of care and, if applicable, the need for protection of the patient or institutional staff that would be compromised by a procedural default; [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
K. The historical course of the patient’s mental illness or disorder, as determined by available relevant information about the course of the patient’s mental illness or disorder, is considered when it has direct bearing on the determination of whether the patient, as the result of a mental illness or disorder, poses a substantial risk of harm to self or others or there is a reasonable certainty that the patient will suffer severe physical or mental harm as manifested by recent behavior demonstrating an inability to avoid risk or to protect the patient adequately from impairment or injury. [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
5. Effective date and expiration of order. An order authorizing involuntary medication pursuant to subsection 3 is effective 24 hours after it is issued and expires one year after the date of the order, unless a new authorization is given pursuant to the procedures set forth in subsection 7 or authorization is terminated early based on a significant change to the patient’s medical condition such that the need for treatment no longer outweighs the risks and side effects pursuant to the procedures set forth in subsection 8.
6. Effect of subsequent consent. A patient’s subsequent informed consent does not abrogate an order authorizing involuntary medication under this section.
7. Extension. To extend an authorization that is in effect allowing involuntary medication under this section, the hospital shall, no later than 21 days prior to the expiration of the authorization, file with the department’s office of administrative hearings and provide the patient and the patient’s counsel with a written notice indicating the hospital’s intent to extend the authorization under the existing decision.
8. Early termination. To request early termination of an authorization allowing involuntary medication, the patient or the patient’s designated representative shall file a request with the department’s office of administrative hearings, along with copies of documents from the patient’s hospital record, or from another medical source, demonstrating that there has been a significant change to the conditions leading to the original order or the patient’s medical condition. The hearing officer shall determine within 14 days whether the documents are sufficient to show such a change, and, if so, shall schedule a hearing to determine whether the change in the conditions leading to the original order or the patient’s medical condition is such that the benefits of the authorized treatment no longer outweigh the risks and side effects.
A. A hearing under this subsection must be held no more than 14 days after the hearing officer’s determination, unless the patient or the patient’s designated representative agrees to extend the date of the hearing. The authorization remains in effect unless it is terminated following the hearing. [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
B. The patient, the patient’s designated representative, if any, and the hospital must be provided with written notice of the hearing under this subsection at least 7 days prior to the hearing. The written notice must:
(2) Inform the patient of the patient’s right to file an appeal in Superior Court of a decision of the commissioner determining that the benefits of the authorized treatment continue to outweigh the risks and side effects. [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
C. For purposes of a request for early termination of an authorization under this subsection, the patient may name as the patient’s designated representative a lay advisor provided by the hospital, a lawyer provided by the patient at the patient’s own expense or another representative who is selected by the patient and who is willing and able to assist in the proceeding. If the hearing officer determines that a hearing is warranted, the patient must be provided counsel at the department’s expense at least 7 days prior to the hearing. [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]
D. If, following a hearing under this subsection, the hearing officer determines by clear and convincing evidence that the benefits of authorized treatment no longer outweigh the risks and side effects, the hearing officer must recommend termination of the authorization to the commissioner. The decision whether to terminate the authorization of involuntary treatment rests with the commissioner, who shall act within 48 hours upon the hearing officer’s recommendation. [2015, c. 325, §1 (NEW).]