Opinion ID: 3167148
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The individual is[, because he or she does any

Text: of the following,] dangerous . . . . 17 No. 2014AP1048 psychologist or a licensed physician.16 Both Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1) and Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1)(ar) are treatment focused; these statutes emphasize that a person is being committed because he or she has a mental illness and needs treatment to help that illness. ¶28 However, Wis. Stat. § 51.61, titled patient rights, states that an individual has the right to refuse all medication and treatment. Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)(1). If an individual invokes his or her right, then the County can petition for the involuntary administration of medication or treatment to an individual pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g). Wisconsin Stat. § 51.61(1)(g) does not carve out a special subsection for inmates, so the requirements to prove incompetency to refuse medication and treatment are the same for everyone (inmates and non-inmates alike). To prove incompetency, the County must show that because of mental illness, developmental disability, alcoholism or drug dependence, and after the advantages and disadvantages of and alternatives to accepting the particular medication or treatment [were] explained to the individual, the individual is either (1) incapable of expressing an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of accepting medication or treatment and the 16 Unlike Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1), which requires a finding of dangerousness, Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1)(ar) does not require such a finding. According to Christopher, it is this absence of a required finding of dangerousness that renders Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1)(ar) facially unconstitutional. 18 No. 2014AP1048 alternatives, or (2) substantially incapable of applying an understanding of the advantages, disadvantages and alternatives to his or her mental illness, developmental disability, alcoholism or drug dependence in order to make an informed choice as to whether to accept or refuse medication or treatment. Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.a., b. ¶29 To summarize, an inmate can be involuntarily committed under Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1)(ar) only when the State satisfies a hefty set of requirements. Moreover, an inmate is committed so he or she can receive treatment for his or her mental illness. But, if the inmate invokes his or her right to refuse treatment, then the State will need to petition for the involuntary administration of medication or treatment to that inmate.