Court Opinion

ID: 2827548
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-08-14 20:06:01.094202+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:31:27.078361
License: Public Domain

2015 IL App (1st) 141517

                                                                            SIXTH DIVISION
                                                                            August 14, 2015

No. 1-14-1517

In re: MAUREEN D., Found to Be a Person Subject to           )              Appeal from the
Involuntary Medication                                       )              Circuit Court of
                                                             )              Cook County.
(THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,                        )
                                                             )
       Petitioner-Appellee,                                  )
                                                             )              2014 COMH 000812
v.                                                           )
                                                             )
MAUREEN D.,                                                  )              Honorable
                                                             )              Paul A. Karkula,
       Respondent-Appellant.)                                )              Judge Presiding.

       JUSTICE ROCHFORD delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
       Presiding Justice Hoffman and Justice Lampkin concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                            OPINION

¶1     Respondent, Maureen D., appeals the order of the trial court authorizing the involuntary

administration of psychotropic medications to her pursuant to section 2-107.1(a-5)(4) of the

Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code (Mental Health Code) (405 ILCS 5/2-

107.1(a-5)(4) (West 2014)).     Respondent contends the State failed to prove by clear and

convincing evidence that she was subject to involuntary treatment because no evidence showed

she was advised, in writing, of the side effects, risks and benefits of the psychotropic medications

as well as alternatives thereto as required by section 2-102(a-5) of the Mental Health Code (405

ILCS 5/2-102(a-5) (West 2014)). We affirm.

¶2                                    I. BACKGROUND

¶3     Dr. James Corcoran, a psychiatrist, filed a petition seeking to involuntarily administer

psychotropic medications to respondent pursuant to section 2-107.1(a-5)(4) of the Mental Health

Code. Section 2-107.1(a-5)(4) provides:
No. 1-14-1517

                "(4) Psychotropic medication and electroconvulsive therapy may be administered

      to the recipient if and only if it has been determined by clear and convincing evidence

      that all of the following factors are present. ***

                        (A) That the recipient has a serious mental illness or developmental

                disability.

                        (B) That because of said mental illness or developmental disability, the

                recipient currently exhibits any one of the following: (i) deterioration of his or her

                ability to function, as compared to the recipient's ability to function prior to the

                current onset of symptoms of the mental illness or disability for which treatment

                is presently sought, (ii) suffering, or (iii) threatening behavior.

                        (C) That the illness or disability has existed for a period marked by the

                continuing presence of the symptoms set forth in item (B) of this subdivision (4)

                or the repeated episodic occurrence of these symptoms.

                        (D) That the benefits of the treatment outweigh the harm.

                        (E) That the recipient lacks the capacity to make a reasoned decision

                about the treatment.

                        (F) That other less restrictive services have been explored and found

                inappropriate.

                        (G) If the petition seeks authorization for testing and other procedures, that

                such testing and procedures are essential for the safe and effective administration

                of the treatment." (Emphasis added.) 405 ILCS 5/2-107.1(a-5)(4) (West 2014).

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No. 1-14-1517

¶4     Before respondent can make a reasoned decision about her medications, she first must be

advised about their risks and benefits. In re Tiffany W., 2012 IL App (1st) 102492-B, ¶ 13.

Pursuant thereto, section 2-102(a-5) of the Mental Health Code provides in pertinent part:

       "If the services include the administration of *** psychotropic medication, the physician

       or the physician's designee shall advise the recipient, in writing, of the side effects, risks,

       and benefits of the treatment, as well as alternatives to the proposed treatment, to the

       extent such advice is consistent with the recipient's ability to understand the information

       communicated." 405 ILCS 5/2-102(a-5) (West 2014).

¶5     "The rationale underlying the requirements of section 2-102(a-5) is to not only ensure

that a respondent is fully informed, but also 'to ensure that a respondent's due process rights are

met and protected.' [Citation.] Strict compliance is necessary to guard a respondent's

fundamental liberty interest in refusing invasive medication [Citation.] Verbal notification is

insufficient and the right to receive written notification under section 2-102(a-5) cannot be

waived by a respondent." In re Nicholas L., 407 Ill. App. 3d 1061, 1072 (2011).

¶6                                            II. The Hearing

¶7     At the hearing on the petition on April 18, 2014, respondent's sister, Mary S., testified

respondent was diagnosed with a personality disorder in 1990 and hospitalized at MacNeal

Hospital in Berwyn. Respondent was hospitalized again in 1994 at Northwestern Memorial

Hospital and diagnosed as bipolar. She was prescribed medications, specifically, Lithium and

Stelazine.   Upon her discharge from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, respondent received

outpatient treatment from Dr. Burton, her psychologist, for several years and continued to take

the medications. During that time period, respondent did "very well"; she owned her own

condominium, ran marathons, got along with her family, and "looked great."

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No. 1-14-1517

¶8     Around 2006 or 2007, respondent lost her job and stopped taking her medications.

Without her medications, respondent became "progressively paranoid," believing everybody was

against her and that Mary S. was abusing their mother.      Mary S. last saw respondent in 2011,

about three years prior to the hearing.

¶9     Dr. Corcoran testified he is a psychiatrist who works full-time as the medical director at

Chicago-Read Mental Health Center (Chicago-Read) and he also works part-time for the DuPage

County jail. Dr. Corcoran testified that in 2013, respondent was briefly hospitalized at Chicago-

Read for causing a disturbance at the Chicago Public Library. She refused treatment and was

subsequently discharged.

¶ 10   Dr. Corcoran testified that later, in October 2013, respondent fell into arrears in her

payments to the condominium association and eviction proceedings were initiated. When the

sheriff tried to serve her, she refused to open the door and the sheriff forced it open. Respondent

was then taken into custody and charged with misdemeanor obstruction of service. In December

2013, respondent was found unfit to stand trial on the misdemeanor charge and she stayed in jail

while waiting for placement at a minimum-security facility. When a bed opened up at Chicago-

Read on January 29, 2014, respondent was transferred there to be restored to fitness.

¶ 11   Dr. Corcoran evaluated respondent in February 2014, and he also performed subsequent

evaluations. During many of the evaluations, respondent asked questions Dr. Corcoran was

unable to answer, an "explosive argument" ensued, and respondent spoke and shouted in a

"monologue of 5 to 10 solid minutes." Dr. Corcoran was then "able to maybe ask a question,

*** but the answer [he] got was confusing, disorganized and based on delusions."

¶ 12   Dr. Corcoran opined that respondent suffers from bipolar affective disorder, manic type,

and was currently symptomatic. Respondent talks about a conspiracy of gang members and

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No. 1-14-1517

Serbian/Baltic Nazis in her neighborhood who attempt to get her evicted. Respondent also has

suffered socioeconomic decline because, although she had worked various jobs in the past, she

has not worked recently.

¶ 13   Dr. Corcoran testified that respondent exhibits "suffering behavior" in that when he tries

to talk to her, she appears quite anguished and agitated and she shouts and screams. Respondent

has exhibited threatening behavior, specifically, when she engaged in some type of "altercation"

with the sheriff who attempted to serve her during the eviction proceedings, and also on February

14, 2014, when she was so resistive to medication that she was placed in a "physical hold."

Respondent also was placed on a phone restriction at Chicago-Read because she was making

harassing phone calls to Cook County sheriff's office.

¶ 14   Dr. Corcoran testified about the psychotropic medications he wanted to administer to

respondent, their dosages, side effects, and benefits. He requested to administer Lithium, which

respondent has taken before, and several other medications. Dr. Corcoran also testified he

attempted to give respondent written information in February 2014 and again on March 17, 2014,

regarding the psychotropic medications he wanted to administer, including their benefits and side

effects, as well as the nonmedical alternatives to the proposed treatment. In response to the

written information, respondent stated: "I don't need that. I don’t need medication."

¶ 15   Dr. Corcoran testified that respondent does not have the capacity to make a reasoned

judgment about the treatment he was seeking for her. When asked why not, Dr. Corcoran

explained: "Because her paranoid delusions about what has happened in her life and the

deterioration that she has experienced are so heavily ingrained at this point that she is not able to

listen to reason."    Dr. Corcoran has explored less restrictive alternatives to psychotropic

medications, such as group and individual therapy, but he found them to be inappropriate for

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No. 1-14-1517

respondent given her lack of insight into her illness. Dr. Corcoran opined that the benefits of the

psychotropic medications outweighed their harm and that without administration of the

psychotropic medications, respondent's prognosis was "very poor."

¶ 16   On cross-examination, Dr. Corcoran testified in pertinent part:

                "Q. And when you were talking about the written information               about the

       treatment, your written information about the medication - -

                A. Yes.

                Q. You testified that you attempted to give the information. What do you mean

       by attempted?

                A. I handed it to her, and she walked away from me.

                Q. Okay. Did she take it in her hands?

                A. No. I left it on the counter in the nursing station because she walked away.

                Q. Okay.

                A. I said [to respondent] here's some information about medication. This was

       some time ago when I thought originally that she may have the capacity to consent to

       medication, and I have since realized that she doesn't.

                Q. Okay. So you left the papers on the counter? Did you take them and put them

       on her nightstand or on her bed?

                A. I'm not allowed in her room. I don't go into a female patient room."

¶ 17   Following Dr. Corcoran's testimony, respondent was called to testify, but she stated that

she preferred to read a statement. The court refused to allow respondent to read her statement,

and she did not testify.

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No. 1-14-1517

¶ 18    Following all the testimony and closing arguments, the trial court granted Dr. Corcoran's

petition to involuntarily administer psychotropic medications to respondent. Respondent now

appeals, contending the State failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that she was

subject to involuntary administration of psychotropic medications because no evidence showed

she was advised, in writing, of the side effects, risks and benefits of these medications as well as

alternatives thereto as required by section 2-102(a-5) of the Mental Health Code.

¶ 19                                          III. Analysis

¶ 20    Initially, we note the underlying judgment, entered on April 18, 2014, was limited to 90

days, which have passed. Therefore, we cannot grant respondent any effectual relief and her

appeal is moot. See In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d 30, 45 (2004) (holding that after the 90-day

period for the administration of involuntary treatment has passed, the circuit court's order no

longer has any force or effect, the reviewing court cannot grant any meaningful relief and,

therefore, the case is moot and any decision would be advisory in nature). See also In re

Nicholas L., 407 Ill. App. 3d at 1070 ("An appeal is moot when no actual controversy is

presented or when the issues raised in the trial court have ceased to exist, rendering it impossible

for the court of review to grant effectual relief to the appellant."); People v. Hill, 2011 IL
110928, ¶ 6 ("The mootness doctrine provides that we must dismiss an appeal when the issues

involved have ceased to exist because intervening events have made it impossible for us to grant

effectual relief.").

¶ 21    However, respondent argues we should reach the merits of her appeal based on the public

interest exception to the mootness doctrine and the "capable of repetition yet avoiding review"

exception to the mootness doctrine. We agree. Our supreme court has stated:

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No. 1-14-1517

       "The public interest exception allows a court to consider an otherwise moot case when

       (1) the question presented is of a public nature; (2) there is a need for an authoritative

       determination for the future guidance of public officers; and (3) there is a likelihood of

       future recurrence of the question." In re Alfred H.H., 233 Ill. 2d 345, 355 (2009).

¶ 22   In the present case, the question presented by respondent involves whether section 2-

102(a-5) of the Mental Health Code was sufficiently complied with, which we have held

"qualifies as a matter of a public nature." In re Nicholas L., 407 Ill. App. 3d at 1071. See also In

re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 46 ("the procedures courts must follow to authorize the involuntary

medication of mental health patients involve matters of 'substantial public concern' " (quoting In

re Mary Ann P., 202 Ill. 2d 393, 402 (2002))). "Moreover, the vast number of cases addressing

the issue of compliance with section 2-102(a-5) (see, e.g., In re Alaka W., 379 Ill. App. 3d 251,

263-64 (2008); In re Dorothy J.N., 373 Ill. App. 3d 332, 336-37 (2007)), indicates both a need

for an authoritative determination for the future guidance of public officers and the likelihood of

future recurrence." In re Nicholas L., 407 Ill. App. 3d at 1071. Accordingly, the public interest

exception to the mootness doctrine is applicable here. See In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 45-46

(applying the public interest exception to consider respondent's appeal from an order authorizing

the involuntary administration of psychotropic medication, even though more than 90 days had

passed and the circuit court's order no longer had any force or effect).

¶ 23   The "capable of repetition yet avoiding review" exception also applies here.            This

exception has two elements. "First, the challenged action must be of a duration too short to be

fully litigated prior to its cessation. Second, there must be a reasonable expectation that 'the

same complaining party would be subjected to the same action again.' " In re Alfred H.H., 233
Ill. 2d at 358 (quoting In re Barbara H., 183 Ill. 2d 482, 491 (1998)).

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No. 1-14-1517

¶ 24   In the present case, the parties agree the first element has been met because the trial

court's involuntary medication order lasted only 90 days. The second element also has been met.

The record indicates respondent was prescribed psychotropic medications in the past; is likely to

be prescribed these medications in the future due to the ongoing nature of her illness; and, given

her history of refusing such medications and the written information about them, she will again

refuse to accept any written information about such medications. Thus, there is a reasonable

expectation that respondent would be subjected to the same action, involving the same issue, as

here; accordingly, we will address respondent's appeal on the merits. See In re Katarzyna G.,

2013 IL App (2d) 120807, ¶ 9 (holding that respondent's appeal from an order authorizing the

involuntary administration of psychotropic medication, in which she raised an issue involving

the propriety of the written information she was given about the medication, involved a question

capable of repetition yet avoiding review sufficient to allow the reviewing court to "bypass

mootness and consider the merits of [the] appeal").

On the merits, respondent argues that the State failed to show by clear and convincing evidence

that she lacked the capacity to make a reasoned decision about the requested psychotropic

medications as required by section 2-107.1(a-5)(4) of the Mental Health Code because no

evidence showed she was advised, in writing, of the risks, benefits and side effects of the

medications, as well as alternatives thereto, as required by section 2-102(a-5). Respondent

contends that although Dr. Corcoran twice attempted to give her this written information, he

failed in his attempts when she walked away from him without taking it and so then he left the

information on the counter at the nurses' station. Respondent argues that leaving the written

information on the counter at the nurses' station was not sufficient to comply with section 2-

102(a-5) and that, at the very least, Dr. Corcoran should have left the information on her

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No. 1-14-1517

nightstand, or in her room or her "personal area" where she would have the opportunity to read it

at a time and manner of her choosing. Respondent contends that Dr. Corcoran's failure to

comply with section 2-102(a-5) means that the State failed to meet its burden of proving that she

lacked the capacity to make a reasoned decision about her treatment and, therefore, we must

reverse the order for the involuntary administration of psychotropic medications. 1

¶ 25      We review de novo whether Dr. Corcoran complied with section 2-102(a-5) here.

Id. ¶ 13. When examining the trial court's order authorizing the involuntary administration of

psychotropic medications, we will not reverse the order unless it was against the manifest weight

of the evidence such that the opposite conclusion was apparent or the findings were

unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on the evidence. In re A.W., 381 Ill. App. 3d 950, 957

(2008).

¶ 26      In re A.W. is dispositive on the issue of whether Dr. Corcoran complied with section 2-

102(a-5). A.W.'s psychiatrist at McFarland Mental Health Center filed a petition seeking to

involuntarily administer psychotropic medication to him. Id. at 952. At the hearing on the

petition, the psychiatrist testified in pertinent part that certain written information regarding

          1
         Respondent makes no argument that the written information Dr. Corcoran attempted to
provide her regarding the psychotropic medications was in any way deficient, i.e., that it failed to
inform her of the risks, benefits, and side effects of the medications and any alternatives and
accordingly the issue is waived (see Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Feb. 6, 2013)); further, the
written information was not included in the record on appeal and therefore any issue involving
the sufficiency of the information is resolved against respondent, the appellant, who has the duty
to provide a complete record on appeal. Foutch v. O'Bryant, 99 Ill. 2d 389, 391-92 (1984).
Rather, the only issue preserved for review is respondent's contention that since Dr. Corcoran
attempted, but failed, to hand her the written information, and then left it on the counter at the
nurses' station, section 2-102(a-5) was not complied with and we should reverse the order
authorizing the involuntary administration of the psychotropic medications.

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No. 1-14-1517

A.W.'s medication was " 'put in his box for him.' " Id. at 953. The trial court subsequently

granted the petition. Id. at 954. A.W. appealed. Id.

¶ 27   This court stated:

       "[S]imply placing the written notification in a respondent's 'box' (or anywhere other than

       in the respondent's hands - or at least an attempt to place the notification in his hands) is

       not sufficient [to comply with section 2-102(a-5)]. Instead, we urge the psychiatrist or

       her designee to follow the procedure suggested by Justice Steigmann in his special

       concurrence in Dorothy J.N.       See Dorothy J.N., 373 Ill. App. 3d at 337-39 ***

       (Steigmann, J., specially concurring). In particular, (1) the psychiatrist or her designee

       who comes into contact with the respondent should have prepared, in advance, a written

       list of the side effects, risks, and benefits of the proposed treatment, as well as

       alternatives to the proposed treatment; (2) during the psychiatrist's examination of the

       respondent, she should present a copy of the list to the respondent, thus complying with

       the requirement that the respondent be advised, in writing, of that information 'to the

       extent such advice is consistent with the recipient's ability to understand the information

       communicated' (405 ILCS 5/2-102(a-5) (West 2006)); and (3) the psychiatrist or her

       designee should attempt to explain the list's contents to the respondent." (Emphasis

       added.) Id. at 958.

¶ 28   Thus, In re A.W. held that to comply with section 2-102(a-5), the psychiatrist or his

designee should present the written information advising of the side effects, risks and benefits of

the treatment to respondent, ideally by placing the information in her hands. Id. However, since

respondent cannot be forced to accept such a tender of the written information against her will,

section 2-102(a-5) is complied with as long as the psychiatrist or his designee attempts to place

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No. 1-14-1517

the information in respondent's hands, even if the attempt is unsuccessful. Id. Further, although

not expressly required by section 2-102(a-5), the psychiatrist or his designee also should attempt

to explain the contents of the written information to respondent, i.e., respondent should at least

be told that the written information addresses her proposed treatment. Id.

¶ 29    Dr. Corcoran's undisputed trial testimony indicates he made two attempts to present

respondent with written information regarding her proposed psychotropic medications, once in

February 2014 and again on March 17, 2014, when he handed her the information and he said to

her: "Here's some information about medication." However, respondent refused to accept the

tenders of the written information, stating she does not need medication, and she walked away

from Dr. Corcoran, thus ending any further discussion. Only after respondent refused to accept

the tenders of the written information did Dr. Corcoran place it on the counter in the nurses'

station. Dr. Corcoran's two attempts to tender the written information to respondent in February

and March 2014 satisfied the requirement of section 2-102(a-5), even though respondent refused

to accept the tenders and walked away. Contrary to respondent's argument, neither section 2-

102(a-5), nor the interpreting case law obliged Dr. Corcoran to leave the written information in

any particular place (such as her nightstand, or in her room, or "personal area") upon her refusal

to take it.

¶ 30    Accordingly, as Dr. Corcoran testified to his compliance with section 2-102(a-5) and to

respondent's lack of capacity to make a reasoned decision about her treatment, the State met its

burden of proof regarding her lack of capacity and the trial court's order authorizing the

involuntary administration of the psychotropic medications was not against the manifest weight

of the evidence.

¶ 31    For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the circuit court.

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No. 1-14-1517

¶ 32   Affirmed.

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