Opinion ID: 1997937
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: stipulation of facts and testimony

Text: 1. Respondent suffers from anorexia nervosa which is a major mental illness and a verifiable psychiatric disorder of perception as defined in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III. This order grossly impairs her judgment by instances of faulty perception regarding her physical appearance. 2. A petition for involuntary commitment of Respondent was filed in the above-named Court on January 27, 1983. 3. At that time, Respondent was not in a life-threatening situation, had voluntarily admitted herself for treatment to the University of Minnesota Hospital facilities and had consented to remain until she reached the weight goal set forth by the hospital's attending staff. 4. A Pre-Petition Screening Panel supported the January 27, 1983 Petition for Involuntary Commitment of Respondent. 5. The first examination, conducted February 1, 1983 pursuant to the January 27, 1983 Petition, did not support involuntary commitment finding that Respondent was not then presently dangerous to herself or others. 6. The January 27, 1983 Petition was dismissed without specific findings after a trial on the merits. 7. Respondent failed to follow through with outpatient treatment when discharged from the University of Minnesota Hospital facilities in February of 1983. 8. On March 29, 1983, Respondent again voluntarily admitted herself to the University of Minnesota Hospital facilities for treatment of her anorexic condition. 9. At the time of Respondent's voluntary admission to the University of Minnesota Hospital on March 29, 1983, she was not in a life-threatening situation. 10. Since March 29, 1983, Respondent has consented to treatment at the University of Minnesota Hospital facilities until she reached the weight goals set by the University of Minnesota Hospital's attending staff. 11. A Pre-Petition Screening Report does not support involuntary treatment or commitment, but rather recommends continued voluntary treatment at the University of Minnesota Hospital facilities followed by outpatient treatment. 12. Respondent has never been involuntarily committed for treatment of her mental illness. 13. Respondent verbalizes that she is aware of the physical and emotional consequences of failure to comply with and continue with treatment. 14. Respondent has a history of at least fourteen (14) hospitalizations for treatment of anorexia nervosa made necessary because of her failure to comply with outpatient treatment programs arranged during prior hospitalizations. 15. Of the fourteen (14) admissions to the University of Minnesota Hospital, Respondent's physical condition due to self starvation has been life-threatening in the majority of these admissions. Her weight has decreased to a low of 48 pounds. 16. According to medical testimony, Respondent's self starvation has resulted in evidence of organ damage; furthermore, the potential for serious injury or death increases with each new period of self-starvation. 17. Respondent's history discloses that she relapses into periods of self starvation within 4-6 weeks after discharge from inpatient treatment. 18. Doctors testified that within reasonable medical certainty, rehospitalization of Respondent will be required because of Respondent's noncompliance with the outpatient treatment plan. 19. At the present time, Respondent is not in a life-threatening situation and is in the University of Minnesota Hospital on a voluntary basis. Her weight is up to approximately 90 pounds. 20. It is the position of the Hospital that they cannot safely release Respondent without the protection of an enforceable provisional discharge in order to assure that she complies with the treatment program on an outpatient basis. 21. Anorexia nervosa is a treatable disorder and Respondent responds quickly and favorably to treatment. 22. In Respondent's case, long term inpatient treatment is not required or desired; however, hospital staff assert that outpatient care and compliance is paramount. 23. The outpatient plan recommended by the treating physician would be: (a) Respondent will see Leah Labeck for individual therapy once a week (Monday or Friday) and for group therapy once a week (Wednesday evening). (b) Respondent will maintain her weight in the range of 87-93 pounds, checked at weekly weigh-ins under standard conditions during clinic visits. (c) If Respondent is out of her weight range, she must return to clinic for re-weighing in half a week (i.e., Friday or Monday). She must be in her weight range at that time or she will be considered non-compliant. (d) If Respondent is below weight range twice in a row (i.e., for one week), she will begin eating supervised meals by the following schedule: Respondent will eat three meals a day at the Hospital for one week. If she has maintained her weight by the end of that period, she can then eat two meals a day at the Hospital for two weeks. If she has successfully maintained her weight by the end of that period, she can then eat one meal (lunch or supper) a day at the Hospital for the next three weeks. If she is still maintaining her weight at the end of that period she can then work out her own plan with Leah Labeck or at [sic] on her own. (e) Respondent will take medications as prescribed for medication follow-up as needed and for laboratory work as indicated. 24. The treating physician feels that no lesser restrictive alternative than described in point 23 above is available in Respondent's case. 25. Respondent's immediate family resides out of state, however, they are interested in her treatment and are willing to participate as they are able.