Opinion ID: 198189
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Maine's Involuntary Hospitalization Law

Text: 15 Under Maine law, a person may be admitted to a mental hospital, on an emergency basis, upon written application stating the applicant's belief that the person is mentally ill and, because of his illness, poses a likelihood of serious harm. 34-B M.R.S.A. § 3863(1). The Maine statute elsewhere describes such an emergency admission as an involuntary admission and it is clear that a person so admitted cannot leave the institution and is under its control. 4 The application must be accompanied by a certificate signed by a health care professional who has examined the patient not more than three days before the date of admission and determined that the patient poses a likelihood of serious harm. Id., § 3863(2). 16 The application and the accompanying certificate must be reviewed by a Justice of the Superior Court, Judge of the District Court, Judge of Probate or a justice of the peace. See id., § 3863(3). If the judicial officer determines that the application and certificate are regular and in accordance with the law, id., the statute requires that he or she endorse them. A patient admitted on an emergency basis may not be detained for more than five days. See id., § 3863(5)(B)(2). 17 Once a patient is involuntarily admitted, section 3863 requires that the patient be examined as soon as practicable. See id., § 3863(7). If this post-admission examination is not held within twenty-four hours after the time of admission, or if a health care provider fails or refuses after the examination to certify that the patient is mentally ill and, due to his mental illness, poses a likelihood of serious harm, the patient must be immediately discharged. See id., § 3863(7)(C). 18 After the initial five-day involuntary hospitalization, a patient may elect to be informally admitted for a longer period, provided the chief administrative officer of the hospital determines that admission of the patient on an informal basis is appropriate. See id., § 3863(5)(A). This informal, voluntary admission may be indefinite. If the patient does not choose to be informally admitted, or the chief administrative officer determines that admission of the patient on an informal basis is not appropriate, and the chief administrative officer believes that further hospitalization is warranted, the chief administrative officer may seek involuntary commitment of the patient. See id., § 3863(5)(B). 19 To secure a further judicial involuntary commitment at this later stage, the chief administrative officer must file [a]n application to the District Court to admit a person to a mental hospital. See id., § 3864(1). 5 The patient is entitled to notice of the proceedings and of his or her right to retain counsel. Id., § 3864(4). If neither the patient nor anyone else provides counsel, the statute requires that the court appoint counsel for the patient. Id., § 3864(5)(D). The patient must be examined by two examiners, each of whom must be a licensed physician or a licensed clinical psychologist. Id. 6 One of the examiners must be a physician or psychologist chosen by the patient or the patient's counsel. Id. If the report of the examiners is to the effect that the person is mentally ill or poses a likelihood of serious harm, the patient is entitled to a hearing before the district court, at which the patient, the applicant, and others are afforded an opportunity to appear and testify. Id., § 3864(5)(C). At the hearing, the court shall receive all relevant and material evidence which may be offered in accordance with accepted rules of evidence and accepted judicial dispositions. Id. 20 To issue a commitment order at this stage, the district court must find, by clear and convincing evidence, that the person is mentally ill and poses a likelihood of serious harm. Id., § 3864(6)(A)(1). The court must also find that inpatient hospitalization is the best available means for treatment and that the proposed individual treatment plan is satisfactory. Id., §§ 3864(6)(A)(2)-(3). Upon making these findings, the court may order the patient committed for a period not to exceed four months in the first instance and not to exceed one year after the first and all subsequent hearings. Id., § 3864(7). 21