Opinion ID: 2628954
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Hesler

Text: The next case to consider the question of whether a mental health care provider had a duty to control a patient with dangerous propensities was Hesler v. Osawatomie State Hospital, 266 Kan. 616, 971 P.2d 1169 (1999). Hesler arose in a context where the mental health hospital had greater, but not complete, control of a patient who had been involuntarily committed. In Hesler, an involuntarily committed patient was released from the hospital on a weekend pass. While riding in his mother's car, the patient grabbed the steering wheel and steered the car into the path of an oncoming car. The driver of the other car was killed, and the patient's mother was injured. The plaintiffs argued that Durflinger controlled, and the mental health care providers owed a duty to them based on the statutory standard that a patient could only be released if determined to no longer be a danger to himself or others. The district court characterized the plaintiffs' position by stating that because the patient was in need of care and treatment, he was, by definition of law, dangerous to himself and others. Therefore, OSH had a duty to simply confine the [patient] until released by court order or until he was in no further need of treatment. Hesler, 266 Kan. at 628, 971 P.2d 1169. This court rejected the plaintiffs' contention that there was a duty to maintain complete control over the involuntarily committed patient. The court simply stated: The statute does not support such a theory. Hesler, 266 Kan. at 628, 971 P.2d 1169. Having found no basis for a statutory duty, the Hesler court focused on whether there was a special duty under §§ 315 and 319 of the Restatement. Noting the mental health providers had no reason to perceive the patient was a threat to the plaintiffs when they approved the weekend pass, the court concluded there was not a special relationship giving rise to a duty. Hesler, 266 Kan. at 632, 971 P.2d 1169. In reaching this decision, the court cited several cases arising in contexts other than the treatment of mentally ill patients. These cases and some decided after the Hesler decision explain Kansas' approach to Restatement §§ 315 and 319.