Opinion ID: 201611
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Provision of Medical and Psychiatric Services

Text: Estades' argument that Appellees are state actors under the public function test because they provided health services to indigents is similarly flawed. The provision of health services is not and has never been the exclusive province of the state in Puerto Rico. See 24 P.R. Laws Ann. § 7001 (noting that [f]rom the beginning of th[e twentieth] century, Puerto Rico's public policy initiate the involuntary commitment process by fil[ing] a petition in court, id. § 6002; before a court can rule on a petition, it must possess a certificate [from] a psychiatrist attesting to the need for commitment, id. § 6003; and if a petition is granted, the subject of the petition is to be taken to any mental health facility, id. § 6004; see id. § 4002(11). -18- has revolved around the attitude that the Government has the responsibility of offering direct health services and that [p]ursuant to such policy, two health systems have evolved, one public and one private). Thus, there can be no finding of state action under the public function test.