Court Opinion

ID: 5897285
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-13 03:08:48.234294+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:45:32.799780
License: Public Domain

OPINION OF THE COURT
Ross, J.
In this appeal, this court must face the difficult dilemma that occurs every time a balance must be struck between an individual’s freedom, and the State’s right to involuntarily confine such individual, in a mental hospital for treatment, when he is a danger to himself.
The precise issue presented to us is whether the respondents, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (NYCHHC), and Bellevue Hospital (Bellevue), have presented clear and convincing evidence that the petitioner is suffering from a mental illness, which requires her immediate involuntary commitment, to a hospital for care and treatment, since allegedly, if such illness is left untreated, it will likely result in serious harm to the petitioner.
While "[f]or many centuries, sovereign power has been exercised to confine mentally ill persons * * *[,] [i]t was in the nineteenth century that mentally ill persons first came to be seen as sick rather than cursed and as susceptible to aid *342through proper treatment * * * [and] this attitude was gradually reflected in new legal procedures for deciding who should be confined in mental hospitals” (Note, Civil Commitment of the Mentally Ill: Theories and Procedures, 79 Harv L Rev 1288 [1966]).
In many of the States of this Nation, including our own, the decision "to confine a person for compulsory psychiatric treatment * * * [is conditioned] not solely on the medical judgment that the defendant is mentally ill and treatable, but also on the social and legal judgment that his potential for doing harm, to himself [or herself] or to others, is great enough to justify such a massive curtailment of liberty” (Humphrey v Cady, 405 US 504, 509 [1972]).
The United States Supreme Court in Addington v Texas 441 US 418 [1979]) held that "clear and convincing proof’ is required by the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution to involuntarily commit an individual to a mental hospital in a proceeding brought under State law. Chief Justice Burger, writing for the court in Addington v Texas (supra, at 425-428, 431), sets forth, in pertinent part, the reasoning by which that court arrived at the "clear and convincing” standard:
"This Court repeatedly has recognized that civil commitment for any purpose constitutes a significant deprivation of liberty that requires due process protection * * * Moreover, it is indisputable that involuntary commitment to a mental hospital after a finding of probable dangerousness to self or others can engender adverse social consequences to the individual * * *
"The state has a legitimate interest under its parens patriae powers in providing care to its citizens who are unable because of emotional disorders to care for themselves; [and] the state also has authority under its police power to protect the community from the dangerous tendencies of some who are mentally ill * * *
"Loss of liberty calls for a showing that the individual suffers from something more serious than is demonstrated by idiosyncratic behavior * * *
"We conclude that the individual’s interest in the outcome of a civil commitment proceeding is of such weight and gravity that due process requires the state to justify confinement by proof more substantial than a mere preponderance of the evidence * * *
*343"There are significant reasons why different standards of proof are called for in civil commitment proceedings as opposed to criminal prosecutions. In a civil commitment state power is not exercised in a punitive sense * * *
"In addition, the 'beyond a reasonable doubt’ standard historically has been reserved for criminal cases * * *
"[Since we have] concluded that the preponderance standard falls short of meeting the demands of due process and that the reasonable-doubt standard is not required, we turn to a middle level of burden of proof [clear and convincing] that strikes a fair balance between the rights of the individual and the legitimate concerns of the state”.
Ms. Billie Boggs (Ms. Boggs) is a 40-year-old woman, whose real name is Ms. Joyce Brown. She chooses to use the name Ms. Billie Boggs since she admires a television personality of that name, and she desires to thwart her family’s efforts to locate her. For the past year, Ms. Boggs has lived on the public sidewalk in front of a restaurant, located on 65th Street and Second Avenue, in New York County, and she has used this location as her bedroom, toilet and living room.
Over the course of the subject year, Ms. Boggs has been observed on an almost daily basis by persons affiliated with Project HELP, which is an emergency psychiatric service for allegedly mentally ill homeless persons, who live on the streets in New York City. The personnel of this organization are comprised of a clinical team of psychiatrists, nurses and social workers, who travel around New York City, for the purpose of identifying persons who live in the street and who appear to be particularly in need of immediate psychiatric hospital treatment, due to the fact that those persons appear to be in danger of doing serious harm to themselves or others.
On October 28, 1987, Dr. Lincoln Robert Asher Hess (Dr. Hess), who is a psychiatrist with Project HELP, determined, after a number of observations of Ms. Boggs, at her location on the pavement, that Ms. Boggs was severely mentally ill, and that she needed immediate hospitalization, since she posed a danger of serious harm to herself. Thereafter, Project HELP arranged for Ms. Boggs’ transportation, against her will, to Bellevue, pursuant to section 9.39 of the Mental Hygiene Law. In pertinent part, subdivision (a) of section 9.39 of the Mental Hygiene Law authorizes a hospital to receive and retain as a patient, for a period of 15 days, any person "alleged to have a mental illness for which immediate obser*344vation, care, and treatment in a hospital is appropriate and which is likely to result in serious harm to [herself] or others”.
The next day, following her hospitalization, on October 29, 1987, Ms. Boggs gave notice that she wished to challenge her involuntary hospitalization and requested a hearing pursuant to section 9.31 of the Mental Hygiene Law and instituted the instant proceeding in the Supreme Court, New York County, against respondents the NYCHHC and Bellevue. Respondents NYCHHC and Bellevue opposed.
A hearing was conducted, and both the petitioner and respondents presented evidence. Ms. Boggs was present and represented by counsel throughout the hearing. Her counsel, upon her behalf, waived all of her rights of confidentiality and consented to have the press attend the hearing. The transcript of the hearing is approximately 600 pages.
The respondents presented their case first, in opposition to Ms. Boggs’ release, and that case consisted of the testimony of four psychiatrists (Drs. Hess, Maeve Mahon [Dr. Mahon], Albert Sabatini [Dr. Sabatini], and Luis R. Marcos [Dr. Marcos]); Ms. Jane Putnam (Ms. Putnam), who is a psychiatric social worker; Ms. Willie Mae James (Ms. James), who is Ms. Boggs’ older sister; and Mr. Mark Lerner (Mr. Lerner), who took a number of photographs of Ms. Boggs living in the street.
On direct examination, Dr. Hess, after his qualification as an expert by the court, testified that he works as a psychiatrist with Project HELP three days a week; in the course of his duties with Project HELP, he first saw Ms. Boggs in the street on July 23, 1987; on that occasion, he approached her, with the knowledge that Ms. Boggs had exhibited hostility to Project HELP’S staff in the past; he observed that Ms. Boggs was dressed in disheveled clothing; although it was not raining, Ms. Boggs was twirling an open umbrella to avoid eye contact with him and the persons passing by; at that time, Dr. Hess heard Ms. Boggs speaking in rhymes, and, according to the witness, the content of these rhymes was sexual, and related to Dr. Hess’ and Ms. Boggs’ genitals; in the witness’ professional opinion, this type of verbalization is referred to as "clanging”, and is indicative of a thought disorder, in which a person transfers their thinking from one thought to another without any logical sequence.
The second time Dr. Hess observed Ms. Boggs in the street *345was five days later, on July 28, 1987. Since the first time that he had seen her, Dr. Hess testified, in substance, that Ms. Boggs’ clothing had become more disheveled, dirty and torn, and she was barefoot. When Dr. Hess attempted to speak to Ms. Boggs, she cursed him, flipped open her skirt and exposed her nude buttocks, and made references to his genitals. In Dr. Hess’ professional opinion, on July 28th, Ms. Boggs appeared to be flat, and disordered, which he testified is characteristic of schizophrenia.
Dr. Hess made his third street observation of Ms. Boggs on September 22, 1987. As before, Dr. Hess found Ms. Boggs at the same location, which was the sidewalk at Second Avenue near 65th Street. In pertinent part, Dr. Hess testified that Ms. Boggs’ clothes were even dirtier than before, and torn to the point that large portions of her torso were exposed, and her clothing was inadequate for the weather; her hair was matted; he noticed the smell of urine and feces emanating from her; he saw pieces of United States currency, which had been torn up in neat pieces stuck to the sidewalk near Ms. Boggs, upon which she appeared to have urinated; Ms. Boggs cursed and shouted obscenities at him; nevertheless, Ms. Boggs did accept food from him, after first refusing it, but, after accepting same, she then threw the contents of this lunch at Dr. Hess, and chased him around the corner. On this occasion of September 22nd, Dr. Hess evaluated Ms. Boggs as having angry, threatening, and intensely hostile feelings, and "again there was a sign of throatiness in the sense there was no modulation”.
In evaluating Ms. Boggs, Dr. Hess considered his personal observations, her history, and information he received from other Project HELP members, such as psychiatrists, nurses and social workers. As a result of this data, Dr. Hess was of the opinion that Ms. Boggs exhibited a deteriorating psychosis and a deteriorating ability to care for herself. For example, he had received information that Ms. Boggs had run out into the trafile to throw away warm clothing that she had received from personnel representing Project HELP.
Finally, on October 28th, Dr. Hess observed Ms. Boggs lying at her location with her head resting on a cardboard box. She smelled strongly of feces, and Dr. Hess again saw torn currency stuck to the pavement and stained by urine. The currency was very neatly torn and urinated upon, and Dr. Hess testified that this was a ritualistic tearing, which suggested magical thinking or delusion. She said repeatedly to Dr. Hess, *346"What is my name?”, which is also indicative of a thought disorder.
In conclusion, on his direct testimony, Dr. Hess diagnosed Ms. Boggs as a chronic schizophrenic, paranoid type. Moreover, he stated in his medical opinion, if she were left in the street, she would be a danger to herself, since she was incapable of accepting food, clothing or shelter, and his diagnosis of her illness was extremely poor. In his view, at this point on October 28th, the least restrictive alternative was to hospitalize Ms. Boggs.
Dr. Hess testified, in answer to the question, what would happen if Ms. Boggs was discharged at present, that, in his opinion, her psychosis would continue to deteriorate, and that her explosive anger and hostility would continue.
In his cross-examination, Dr. Hess stated, in substance, as follows: his first three observations of Ms. Boggs, prior to October 28th, were brief; he agreed that many of Ms. Boggs’ sentences were syntactical; although he elicited no delusions or hallucinations from Ms. Boggs, that did not mean that Ms. Boggs did not suffer from delusions or hallucinations; he admitted that, while he saw stains on the street, he had never actually seen Ms. Boggs urinate or defecate on the street; he observed her huddled in a fetal position by a hot air vent, but he did not know whether or not Ms. Boggs was cold; he did observe escalating, aggressive, violent behavior; he testified that Ms. Boggs’ psychosis had worsened over the months; she was increasingly less inhibited and she took greater risks with her life; and, based upon her deteriorating condition, he concluded that she was a danger to herself.
Ms. Putnam was a psychiatric social worker, who had been the coordinator of Project HELP for five years and she was qualified by the court as an expert psychiatric social worker. In substance, Ms. Putnam’s testimony on direct examination was as follows: she first met Ms. Boggs in December of 1986, as a result of Ms. Putnam having received many calls from people in the community who were concerned about Ms. Boggs’ well-being; when she first saw Ms. Boggs in December, Ms. Boggs appeared to her to be inadequately clothed for the weather, and generally appeared to be dirty and disheveled; however, when Project HELP offered Ms. Boggs their services, Ms. Boggs responded by shouting obscenities at them; however, Project HELP continued to view Ms. Boggs almost daily, and their conclusion was that she was inappropriately *347dressed, frequently barefoot, and always screamed obscenities at the Project HELP people to get away.
According to Ms. Putnam, as Project HELP observed Ms. Boggs, over the course of the year, her behavior changed for the worse. In the winter of 1986-1987, Ms. Boggs appeared to be passive, but by the spring, Ms. Boggs became more aggressive.
On May 8, 1987, Ms. Putnam personally observed an incident, involving Ms. Boggs’ hostile reaction to some deliverymen, who were across the street from her location. These men were gathered outside a restaurant, apparently making a delivery. Suddenly, according to Ms. Putnam, Ms. Boggs began screaming racial epithets at these men, calling them "f...... n......, b...... s...” shouting at them to get away from her, and cursing at them. As a result of this incident, Ms. Putnam became concerned that Ms. Boggs might be assaulted, due to her provocative behavior, and Ms. Putnam perceived that Ms. Boggs might have delusions regarding black men, whom she believed treated her as a prostitute. Also, Ms. Putnam reported her May 8, 1987 observation about Ms. Boggs’ reaction to the deliverymen, to Project HELP psychiatrists.
At this point, we note that our opposing brethren make a number of references to the incident which occurred between Ms. Boggs and the black deliverymen, and conclude on a number of pages of their writing, "what precipitated this incident is unknown”. The record is simply to the contrary, since Ms. Putnam, the only eyewitness to the incident, who testified at the hearing, stated that Ms. Boggs’ verbal assault on the deliverymen was totally unprovoked. This testimony of Ms. Putnam is unrebutted.
In summary, Ms. Putnam testified concerning Project HELP’s year-long observation of Ms. Boggs, as follows: that Ms. Boggs used an umbrella to keep a distance between herself and others, but she did not use the umbrella to protect herself from the rain; that Ms. Boggs’ behavior became steadily more aggressive; that she addressed Ms. Putnam as a "white bitch”; moreover, the witness personally observed fecal matter on the sheets which Ms. Boggs wrapped around herself; and the witness had personally seen Ms. Boggs urinate and defecate in the street.
In Ms. Putnam’s professional opinion, Ms. Boggs could not at this time live in the community. Furthermore, Ms. Putnam testified that Ms. Boggs cannot, at this time, be an outpatient *348in view of her low level of self-care, and Ms. Boggs would, if not hospitalized, deteriorate in a few days.
After her direct examination, Ms. Putnam testified, in substance, on cross-examination, as follows: she admitted that homeless people wear disheveled clothing; she stated that, prior to Ms. Boggs’ taunts to the deliverymen, those men had not said anything to provoke Ms. Boggs; that based upon Ms. Boggs’ aggressive behavior and her use of racial slurs against total strangers, she believed that Ms. Boggs was in danger of being assaulted.
The next witness, for the respondents, was Dr. Mahon, who was Ms. Boggs’ treating psychiatrist at respondent Bellevue. Before testifying, Dr. Mahon was qualified by the court as an expert in psychiatry. Also, prior to Dr. Mahon’s testimony, the Bellevue Hospital record regarding Ms. Boggs, was received in evidence, and Dr. Mahon used that record during her testimony.
In substance, Dr. Mahon testified, on her direct examination, that she had last examined Ms. Boggs on the morning of the hearing.
According to Dr. Mahon’s testimony, the Bellevue Hospital record indicated that Ms. Boggs was admitted on October 28, 1987, and contained the notations of the admitting physician, who was a Dr. Gabriel; and Dr. Gabriel’s notations in the record indicated that Ms. Boggs had told him that she had run into traffic, and that she had a right to do so; she said that if she got hurt, it was nobody’s business but her own; she admitted to him that she urinates and defecates in her clothing; he admitted Ms. Boggs, relying on her history of deteriorating self-care and increasing hostility; and, finally, Dr. Gabriel found that Ms. Boggs’ "affect” was loose, inappropriate, and her understanding of her illness appeared to be nil.
Dr. Mahon, herself, first saw Ms. Boggs on October 29th; at that time, Dr. Mahon did not speak with Ms. Boggs, since Ms. Boggs was hostile, angry, and used threatening gestures; verbally, Ms. Boggs was obscene and loud. Thereafter, Dr. Mahon saw Ms. Boggs on October 30th; and, on that date, Ms. Boggs appeared to be less angry and Dr. Mahon spent about 30 minutes with her.
On October 30th, Ms. Boggs, in substance, told Dr. Mahon that she had been living in the street for approximately five years, and that, prior to moving into the streets, she had been living with a man with whom she had a 15-year relationship; *349and Ms. Boggs stated that she had been using cocaine and heroin; and, when Dr. Mahon asked if Ms. Boggs had defecated in her clothing, Ms. Boggs responded "where else do you think I would defecate”. Incidentally, Ms. Boggs had lied to Dr. Mahon about having lived in the street for approximately five years, since subsequent evidence proves that she had been living on the street for approximately one year, and also her statement to Dr. Mahon that she had a 15-year relationship with a man was also false, as proved by later evidence.
Over the next few days, Dr. Mahon believed that she established a trusting relationship with Ms. Boggs. Dr. Mahon did note that when she saw Ms. Boggs on the second occasion of October 30th, Ms. Boggs’ speech appeared to be "pressured”, which meant to Dr. Mahon, as a psychiatrist, that she could not stop Ms. Boggs’ train of thought or interrupt her.
The third time Dr. Mahon saw Ms. Boggs was on October 31st. Dr. Mahon noted that on each encounter, Ms. Boggs and Dr. Mahon established more of a relationship, so that on October 31st, Ms. Boggs requested that Dr. Mahon arrange for her to have the dietician serve chicken salad. In Dr. Mahon’s mind, the ordering of chicken salad by Ms. Boggs was a positive statement, in that Ms. Boggs appeared to be acknowledging Dr. Mahon as her psychiatrist.
For example, Ms. Boggs now told Dr. Mahon that she did not have any friends and had never had any; she had finished high school and claimed that her boyfriend took care of her. Dr. Mahon found Ms. Boggs still gave inappropriate and irrelevant answers from time to time in their conversations together. When Dr. Mahon asked her how she cleaned herself on the street, Ms. Boggs began to talk about chicken salad. Thereafter, Ms. Boggs discussed political issues. Furthermore, Ms. Boggs explained that she earned money to get people’s respect.
In Dr. Mahon’s opinion, Ms. Boggs suffered from delusions. For example, during the first session, Ms. Boggs told Dr. Mahon that she thought she was going to be killed in the hospital, since she allegedly saw another female patient standing at the end of her bed. In all, Dr. Mahon found Ms. Boggs’ judgment to be impaired.
Finally, on November 2nd, the morning of the hearing, Dr. Mahon saw Ms. Boggs again, and found her to be bright, verbal and oriented, as to time and place. Furthermore, that morning Ms. Boggs was more cooperative than ever, even allowing Dr. Mahon to ask her to interpret certain proverbs.
*350In her diagnosis, Dr. Mahon found Ms. Boggs to be a chronic schizophrenic, access one, paranoid type. Moreover, Dr. Mahon stated that Ms. Boggs’ mental condition had improved during her hospitalization at Bellevue, and that it was very common for a patient like Ms. Boggs to stabilize in a structured setting. Furthermore, Dr. Mahon thought that some of Ms. Boggs’ improvement may have been due to a dose of medication, "Heloperidol”, which she received when she was first admitted to the hospital.
As required by Mental Hygiene Law § 9.39, Dr. Mahon certified Ms. Boggs’ need for continued hospitalization, after 48 hours. Dr. Mahon did this, since she believed, in her professional opinion, that Ms. Boggs is a danger to herself. Due to her abnormal manifestations, Dr. Mahon concluded that Ms. Boggs cannot live in the community, but needs to be institutionalized, where she can establish a trusting relationship with a psychiatrist who can encourage her to participate in therapy. It is Dr. Mahon’s goal to alleviate Ms. Boggs’ deterioration, so that she may be discharged and accept outpatient services. In conclusion, Dr. Mahon stressed that Ms. Boggs was not yet ready to be an outpatient.
Dr. Mahon was then cross-examined, in substance, as follows: in reaching her diagnosis, she relied in part on the patient’s past history, including medical records, and her discussions with Dr. Hess, Ms. Putnam, and Dr. Gabriel, who, as mentioned supra, admitted Ms. Boggs to Bellevue; upon being shown the records of Metropolitan Hospital, she noted that, although on one occasion, Ms. Boggs was examined and found not to be psychotic, on April 6, 1987 two Metropolitan doctors who saw her found her to be schizophrenic; also, a third Metropolitan doctor, who saw her on an unspecified date, additionally found Ms. Boggs to be schizophrenic; in her opinion, Dr. Mahon found the medical records, upon which she based her diagnosis, to be "remarkably consistent”.
Furthermore, in her cross-examination, Dr. Mahon testified that she never observed Ms. Boggs walk in front of automobiles, or defecate on herself; but, as mentioned supra, Ms. Boggs, herself, had told Dr. Mahon she did often urinate and defecate on herself. With respect to medication, the witness testified that she had ordered it, but Ms. Boggs refused to take it.
Following the conclusion of Dr. Mahon’s cross-examination, the court questioned her. First, the court asked the witness if *351her diagnosis that Ms. Boggs needed to be hospitalized was based upon the simple fact Ms. Boggs refused services. In response, Dr. Mahon denied that her diagnosis was based on anything other than the facts the witness had developed from observing Ms. Boggs’ hospital behavior, which was discussed supra, and the mental examinations she had performed on Ms. Boggs. Then, the court asked if Ms. Boggs’ mental status could change markedly in three weeks, from the time Ms. Boggs was seen at Metropolitan Hospital until she was admitted to Bellevue. Dr. Mahon answered that question, in substance, as follows:
"I think Miss Boggs shows remarkable ability, as is not uncommon with some psychiatric patients, to adapt and to regroup and organize herself temporarily in settings such [as] psychiatric emergency rooms, such as the inpatient service here at Bellevue and appear to be very rational and appear not to have any severe psychosis.
"However, as a psychiatrist what I have to do is make sure I evaluate not only what I am seeing now and on a daily basis with Miss Boggs, but look at the history, and running in front of traffic and saying she has a right to endanger her life is suicidal and as a psychiatrist, I have to call that suicidal behavior and I have to treat it as a clinician”.
The third psychiatrist to testify for the respondents was Dr. Sabatini, who was Medical Director in the Department of Psychiatry at New York University Medical Center. Dr. Sabatini was qualified, as an expert, in adult psychiatry.
On direct examination, Dr. Sabatini testified, in substance, as follows: in his opinion, Ms. Boggs is dangerous to herself; his examination of her indicated signs and symptoms of "schizophrenia”, and that she is delusional and acted on her delusions. For example, with respect to Ms. Boggs’ practice of tearing up money, Dr. Sabatini commented in his testimony as follows: "It’s not a general phenomena observed and the indications I got were that there was a meaning to the destruction of this money because it represented, when it was given to her, people saying things about her—negative things about her which had a sexual overtone, specifically a sexual overtone, and I think that the people who were most, most accused of doing the sexual acts to her were referred to by the patient as 'niggers’. I don’t think that that necessarily meant that they were black. But these were the people who were, in some way, trying to control her sexuality through money. And *352I think the destruction of money served to dispel that”. In summary, Dr. Sabatini testified that Ms. Boggs’ ripping up the currency appeared to have some private meaning to her; and, that, her response to the witness’ question concerning the money, became "tangled up with black males [and] prostitution”.
Moreover, Dr. Sabatini testified that Ms. Boggs told him she met her toilet needs, with an unrelated story about a woman in Connecticut and that woman’s need for police help. Dr. Sabatini observed that failure to respond directly to a question, as Ms. Boggs had done concerning meeting her toilet needs, as indicative of one of the defects in the thought process one finds in schizophrenia.
Furthermore, Dr. Sabatini testified that it is not unusual for a mentally ill person not to be admitted to a hospital on one occasion, and then to be admitted on another; since he explained "mental illness is not a stable condition”. The witness noted a mentally ill patient may stabilize in a hospital, and not display symptoms, since the hospital environment presents the "protection [of] the structured [setting] which allows [a mentally ill patient] not to have to resort to the psychotic defenses that are utilized outside”.
In summary, on direct examination, Dr. Sabatini testified: in his opinion, some homeless people can live safely on the street, but Ms. Boggs does not fit into that category, since the witness does not believe she has the mental stability to survive in that environment; in his view, if left unattended in the street, Ms. Boggs will deteriorate; the witness denied that Ms. Boggs was hospitalized simply as a result of refusing services from Project HELP; and Ms. Boggs was brought to the emergency room to be hospitalized, since she was considered to be in an acute state, and she was admitted for involuntary treatment of a schizophrenic disorder.
The fourth psychiatrist to testify for the respondents was Dr. Marcos, who was vice-president for mental hygiene of respondent NYCHHC, and professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine. It was stipulated that Dr. Marcos is an expert.
On direct examination, Dr. Marcos testified, that he reviewed Ms. Boggs’ records and examined her, and, upon that basis, concluded she was a danger to herself, since she had admitted running into moving traffic, and she claimed that activity was no one else’s concern; in his opinion, Ms. Boggs *353does not have the capacity to live on the street; according to the witness, he elicited delusions from Ms. Boggs in connection with her burning of currency; the witness explained that, in Ms. Boggs’ mind, being given currency was equated with men trying to tell Ms. Boggs that she was a prostitute; furthermore, the witness interpreted Ms. Boggs’ burning of the currency as evidence of her belief that she could gain respect and dispel the idea she is a prostitute; and he found evidence of schizophrenia in Ms. Boggs’ delusional, irrelevant and unconnected answer to his question about defecation and urination on the street.
On November 4, 1987, Ms. James who, as mentioned supra, was Ms. Boggs’ older sister, came forth and volunteered to testify on behalf of respondents. In substance, Ms. James testified that Ms. Boggs’ real name is Ms. Joyce Brown; the witness last heard from Ms. Boggs in August 1986, when Ms. Boggs telephoned her collect, and began to curse the witness; the cursing was obscene and without form, fashion or pattern, since it was "just a string of curse words. No conversation”; until May 1986, Ms. Boggs had lived with the witness; then one day during the month of May, Ms. Boggs began to scream at and verbally abuse Ms. James and another sister; after the May incident, Ms. Boggs was asked to leave the home; thereafter, the witness did not know where Ms. Boggs next went, but the witness believed she lived in shelters; and the witness noted that in the past, Ms. Boggs had been employed as a secretary for the Elizabeth, New Jersey, Human Rights Commission until 1985.
Another witness for the respondents on their direct case was Mr. Lerner. In substance, Mr. Lerner testified that he is a driver for a car service; he had taken a number of pictures of Ms. Boggs in the street on April 19, 1987; some of these pictures were admitted into evidence; he observed Ms. Boggs defecating on the streets on a number of occasions; the witness stated that respondents’ exhibit C-3 in evidence represented a picture of Ms. Boggs defecating on the street; other photographs in evidence, respondents’ exhibits C-l and C-2, according to the witness, represented feces Ms. Boggs left behind, after defecating in the street.
Ms. Boggs, the petitioner, then presented her case, which consisted of the testimony of three psychiatrists (Drs. Ramon Patel [Dr. Patel], Robert Gould [Dr. Gould], and Michael Pawel [Dr. Pawel]) who had never observed Ms. Boggs’ activities in the streets; and Ms. Boggs’ own testimony.
*354The first witness to testify for Ms. Boggs was Dr. Patel who was director of inpatient psychiatric services and emergency services at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, and the court qualified him as an expert in adult psychiatry.
In substance, on direct examination, Dr. Patel testified as follows: he examined patients who were being admitted, pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law § 9.39; in deciding whether a patient is dangerous to himself or herself, he looks to see if the patient has actually hurt himself or herself in the past, or has expressed any thoughts about hurting himself or herself; and, also, he would look for "impulsive activity like drug abuse or self-destructive behavior or destroying property”.
Furthermore, Dr. Patel testified that he first examined Ms. Boggs on November 1, 1987; thereafter, he examined her briefly on each subsequent day, up to the time he took the witness stand on November 5, 1987; in his opinion, Ms. Boggs is not psychotic, since he found her alert, coherent and oriented to time and place; she was nicely dressed and well groomed in the hospital when he met her; he did not find any hallucinations, delusions, or thought disorder concerning Ms. Boggs; he disagreed with the diagnosis that Ms. Boggs is a paranoid schizophrenic, since in his opinion, Ms. Boggs is not dangerous to herself or others; he believed Ms. Boggs’ statement that she "walks in front of heavy traffic and that its her business”, was not evident of suicidal ideation, but rather an expression of self-pride; after completing his direct examination, Dr. Patel was cross-examined, as follows: he admitted that he never saw Ms. Boggs on the street; and he further admitted that many of the alleged facts, which Ms. Boggs had told him and upon which he relied in part in reaching his conclusions, were not true. For example, the witness admitted that Ms. Boggs’ statements that she had a 15-year relationship with a man, which had ended five years ago when he walked out on her, was not true; nor was Ms. Boggs’ statement to the doctor that she had never required psychiatric hospitalization true; also, Ms. Boggs’ statement that she was raised by a foster family was not true; furthermore, Ms. Boggs’ statement that she had been living on the street for five years was not true, and Dr. Patel testified that this information, like the other untrue information, would affect the assumptions he had made about Ms. Boggs’ level of functioning.
Dr. Patel also admitted on cross-examination that Ms. Boggs’ taking of the name (Billie Boggs) could be one indication of psychopathology; although the doctor concluded that *355Ms. Boggs did not meet the criteria of schizophrenia, he did find indications that some of the criteria may be present, including social isolation and withdrawn behavior; even though he had no reason to disbelieve the statements of the respondents’ psychiatrists that petitioner urinates and defecates on herself, however, he disbelieves that those statements of the respondents’ witnesses that Ms. Boggs screams obscenities at passersby; he explained that, after speaking to Ms. Boggs, he found that she is not the kind of a person to do that to passersby without provocation; he admitted that his clinical judgment of Ms. Boggs would change if many of the incidents, which respondents’ witnesses testified to observing, actually happened; and he acknowledged that psychiatric theory recognizes that a very ill person can go through a period of remission in a hospital.
Finally, Dr. Patel was asked these hypothetical questions by respondents’ counsel, which he answered, as follows:
"question: Let’s assume a hypothetical that Miss—it is true that Miss Boggs does urinate and defecate on herself; that she does assault passersby, that she has deteriorated, that she does call people f...... n.....s and s... my d..., that she believes that there is a connection between money and sex with men. If those were true, would that change your opinion, your clinical impression of Miss Boggs?
"answer: Yes.
"question: It would. Why would it change that?
"answer: Because it could represent some kind of personality problem because of which the person may not be able to function. So I think that if it was indeed true it would change my opinion, it can.
"question: And hypothetically, if what I described to you were true, would you believe that she would do better and in need of hospitalization, and rather than her being able to function on the street—would you like me to repeat that. Am I sure about my question, okay. Hypothetically, Doctor, if those statements were true, would you believe that patient needs care and treatment in a hospital and cannot survive on the street? Would you believe that she requires care and treatment in a hospital?
"answer: Yes.”
The next psychiatrist who testified for Ms. Boggs was Dr. Gould, who was a professor of psychiatry at New York Medical College, and an attending psychiatrist at Metropolitan *356Hospital. Respondents stipulated that he is an expert in psychiatry.
In substance, on direct examination, Dr. Gould testified as follows: four days after Ms. Boggs was admitted to Bellevue, on November 1, 1987, he first examined Ms. Boggs and found her to be "warm and open, spoke without any pressure spontaneously, coherently, logically, without any tangential thinking”; he had never seen Ms. Boggs on the street; he found no suicidal or homicidal ideation and no delusions or hallucinations concerning Ms. Boggs; and, upon this basis he concluded that Ms. Boggs was not psychotic.
Furthermore, Dr. Gould noted that Ms. Boggs’ judgment "was the only thing that was slightly impaired in a sense that she was not aware socially of the kind of troubles ensue from her behavior. [Her] insight was somewhat impaired along the same lines, but by no means nil”; in the witness’ professional opinion, Ms. Boggs is not schizophrenic; he discussed with Ms. Boggs the incidents reported by other doctors, and that she explained her reasons for her actions; he indicated that Ms. Boggs has no delusions about money, rather, he explained, that when someone threw paper money at Ms. Boggs and she found it insulting or degrading, she would destroy it; with respect to her urinating and defecating on the street, the witness thought that it was not delusional because Ms. Boggs, according to him, had no alternative; he did not believe Ms. Boggs was either suicidal or dangerous to herself; when Ms. Boggs ran in front of traffic, the witness testified "there was no indication, in my questioning her about this, that she was interested in having herself killed”; he further noted "the fact that she has never been hurt and she’s never hurt herself is strong indication that she has very good survival skills”; he believed Ms. Boggs’ verbal abuse of others presented no danger, since he explained that Ms. Boggs simply did not wish to be disturbed by some individuals who invaded her privacy and she cursed at them to go away; he stated that Ms. Boggs was congenial to those people she liked, even though he had never observed her in the street; when asked if her verbal response to those she disliked presented a danger, the witness responded "I think that comes under the old cliché of sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. That is all she’s ever done, being verbally abusive”; he rejected the testimony of respondents’ experts that a paranoid schizophrenic could stabilize within a few days of an involuntary admission to a hospital; in fact, in his opinion, rather *357than stabilized, he believed that Ms. Boggs would become more angry; he indicated that in his opinion, the small amount of medication Ms. Boggs had been given could not account for the change in her behavior following her admission to Bellevue; with respect to predictions of future dangerousness, he found them suspect, in view of the fact that to diagnose someone who is suicidal, there must be a history of severe depression and usually suicide attempts; with respect to violent behavior towards others, it would be necessary, in his opinion, to show violence in the past, "that she may have been carrying weapons or using weapons at times”; he found no evidence of deterioration in Ms. Boggs’ mental or physical condition; he believed she provided for herself quite well, by eating every day from a nearby deli; and he found that her only deterioration was in the state of her clothing.
After completing his direct examination, Dr. Gould was cross-examined as follows: he admitted that he had interviewed Ms. Boggs for a total period of only about two hours over the course of the three days before the instant hearing; he had never seen Ms. Boggs on the street; as to the issue of destroying money, he testified that Ms. Boggs destroys paper money but accepts coins in view of the fact that coins are allegedly easier for her to handle; and he indicated that, in his opinion, Ms. Boggs had "worked out a fearless, independent lifestyle and survival style that worked for her. Unconventional though it may be”.
The third psychiatrist to testify for Ms. Boggs was Dr. Pawel, who was attending psychiatrist at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, and an instructor in psychiatry at Columbia Presbyterian College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the court qualified him as an expert in psychiatry.
In substance, on direct examination, Dr. Pawel testified as follows: he examined Ms. Boggs on October 30, 1987 and his conclusions regarding her mental status were "very similar to what has been described by Dr. Gould”; he did not believe that Ms. Boggs posed a danger to herself or that her condition is comparable to that of other patients admitted under Mental Hygiene Law § 9.39; he frequently hospitalized patients involuntarily under Mental Hygiene Law § 9.39; Ms. Boggs is not psychotic at this time, in his opinion; he did not believe that Ms. Boggs could have been psychotic on the street, although he had not seen her there, and then pulled herself together since being admitted to the hospital; and he concluded that Ms. Boggs’ behavior is no more dangerous than at least half, if *358not all, the people in the courtroom, where the instant hearing was taking place.
After completing his direct examination, Dr. Pawel was cross-examined as follows: he saw Ms. Boggs on three occasions, and he examined or interviewed her for a total of only about 1 hour and 15 minutes; he admitted that he had never seen Ms. Boggs on the street; and he further admitted that he could not state whether Ms. Boggs was better or worse on the street.
At the hearing, Ms. Boggs testified in her own behalf. For the sake of continuity, Ms. Boggs’ responses on direct and cross-examinations will be treated together. In substance, Ms. Boggs testified that: she used the names "Billie Boggs” and "Anne Smith” on the streets, since she did not want her identity known, in view of the fact that allegedly her sisters were looking for her; she lives next to a restaurant on Second Avenue, between 65th and 66th Streets and she stays at that location, since there is a hot air vent, although she lived on the streets during the winter of 1986, she indicated that she had never been cold; she panhandles money for food, and, in that fashion, she makes between $8 and $10 a day; she needs allegedly about $7 a day to buy her food; she admitted to urinating and defecating on the street, she denied defecating on herself or in her clothes; on her admission to Bellevue, on October 28th, she admitted telling Dr. Gabriel, mentioned supra, that she did defecate and urinate in her clothes; she claims she has adequate clothes, and that when she needed more she had "friends” who would supply them to her; she used profanity in order to make the staff of Project HELP go away; she claims that her umbrella serves the purpose of protecting her from the sun; she claimed that she had never run in traffic, but, on one occasion, when Project HELP tried to offer her a pair of slacks, she stepped between two parked cars and threw the slacks into the street; she destroys paper money if it is thrown at her or given to her in an allegedly offensive manner; she has no delusions about black persons giving her money for sex; and she never hurt anyone on the street or threatened anyone, and no one ever threatened her for using profanity.
Furthermore, Ms. Boggs testified that she would go back to the streets, if released; she acknowledged that she had been employed in the past and had worked for a Human Rights Commission in Elizabeth, New Jersey, during the period from 1978 to 1984; prior to her being employed by the Human *359Rights Commission, she was employed by Bell Laboratories for two years; she admitted that her sister had asked her to leave the family home; she had lived in a shelter in 1985, but she denied being asked to leave that shelter on account of violent behavior; she had not informed her physicians that she had a previous psychiatric hospitalization; and, although the records of Metropolitan Hospital indicate that she was taken there only 5 times during 1987, she claimed that she had been taken to that hospital on 15 occasions during that year.
Upon the conclusion of Ms. Boggs’ case, the respondents recalled Dr. Mahon to rebut the expert testimony submitted in support of Ms. Boggs’ release.
During the course of Dr. Mahon’s rebuttal testimony, she had occasion to give her professional opinion concerning the meaning of the psychiatric medical record of the East Orange General Hospital (East Orange), located in East Orange, New Jersey. This East Orange record, which indicated that Ms. Boggs had been admitted to that hospital’s Crisis Unit on June 26, 1985, was admitted into evidence as respondents’ exhibit E.
Our examination of respondents’ exhibit E indicates, in pertinent part, that Ms. Boggs had been brought to the subject Crisis Unit by her sisters, who, according to the psychiatric record: "report increasingly hostile and threatening behavior —she [Ms. Boggs] has been evicted from shelters and boarding homes for aggressive and potentially assaultive behavior”; and a progress report dated June 26, 1985, at 10:45 p.m., indicates that Ms. Boggs exhibited hostile and threatening behavior, and that she had been evicted from a boarding home, due to threatening behavior; and, while at the hospital, Ms. Boggs had been medicated with 350 mg. of Thorazine, three times a day and at bedtime. In her testimony, Dr. Mahon stated, in her professional opinion, this amount of Thorazine is a very large dose, and indicative of "severe psychosis”.
Furthermore, Dr. Mahon testified in pertinent part concerning the East Orange record as follows: Ms. Boggs had been placed in seclusion in the hospital; a patient is placed in seclusion in order to reduce extremely agitative and assaultive behavior; the seclusion room, according to the witness, calms the patient by reducing the stimuli around him or her; seclusion is usually ordered if a patient is assaultive, threatening or actually hitting someone; while in seclusion, the witness noted Ms. Boggs received additional Thorazine; the witness *360indicated that the East Orange record stated that Ms. Boggs had been placed in four-point restraints; this type of restraint, which holds down a person’s legs as well as their arms, is used when such a person is using his or her legs and arms in such a manner as to threaten others; the records indicate that Ms. Boggs had been diagnosed "atypical psychosis—rule out paranoid schizophrenia” by the psychiatrists at the New Jersey facility; the witness explained that such a diagnosis indicates that a patient has been admitted to the hospital with a psychotic disorder; according to the witness, a patient admitted to a psychiatric hospital would not be diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, unless there is evidence that a patient suffered from the symptoms of such a disorder for at least six months; in view of the fact that East Orange did not have a case history on Ms. Boggs going back six months, a psychiatrist at that facility would make a preliminary diagnosis of atypical psychosis; the hospital record completed on Ms. Boggs’ admission, describes her as follows: depressed, anxious, insomnia, poor work history and drug history; the final diagnosis of Ms. Boggs at this hospital states that she suffered from a paranoid personality disorder, which is not a psychotic disorder; although the discharge sheet says that Ms. Boggs was not threatening or dangerous, that discharge sheet had been prepared after Ms. Boggs had been in the hospital and treated for 15 days and heavily sedated; in the witness’ opinion, the medication provided to Ms. Boggs at East Orange was correct for the treatment of paranoid delusions and threatening behavior; such medication was "a very traditional way of treating a psychotic, dangerous patient”; and the witness indicated that Ms. Boggs’ condition at the time of her discharge from East Orange could be explained by the medication she had received during her stay there.
Following the receipt of all of the evidence, the hearing court, by order entered November 12, 1987, granted Ms. Boggs’ application, and directed her release from respondent Bellevue (136 Misc 2d 1082). Thereafter, by order entered November 13, 1987, this court stayed the hearing court order pending the determination of this appeal.
Although Ms. Boggs, as mentioned supra, was committed involuntarily to respondent Bellevue for observation and treatment, pursuant to section 9.39 of the Mental Hygiene Law for a period of 15 days, which period expired on November 12, 1987, subdivision (b) of section 9.39 provides that, under other relevant sections of the Mental Hygiene Law, a *361patient requiring continued involuntary psychiatric treatment may be retained in the hospital.
For example, section 9.27 of the Mental Hygiene Law authorizes the involuntary retention of a person, in need of hospital care for mental illness, beyond the 15 days mentioned supra. In pertinent part, subdivision (a) of section 9.27 reads that: "The director of a hospital may receive and retain therein as a patient any person alleged to be mentally ill and in need of involuntary care and treatment upon the certificates of two examining physicians, accompanied by an application for the admission of such person”. Furthermore, subdivision (b), paragraph (6) of this section permits the director of the hospital in which the subject person is hospitalized to be an applicant for such relief. This application shall, inter alia, "contain a statement of the facts upon which the allegation of mental illness and need for care and treatment are based and shall be executed under penalty of perjury” (Mental Hygiene Law § 9.27 [c]). If such application is granted, the party concerned may be retained for 60 days, unless such party requests a hearing on the question of the need for his or her involuntary retention. In any event, if no hearing is requested, or if the court does not establish a specific period of retention, the hospital director must seek additional judicial approval, if he or she wishes to retain the patient beyond the 60-day period (see, Mental Hygiene Law §§ 9.31, 9.33).
Since we are advised at page 43 of the main brief of respondents NYCHHC and Bellevue that two Bellevue hospital psychiatrists have made the necessary certifications to retain Ms. Boggs under section 9.27, we find that this case is not moot.
Incidentally, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held in Project Release v Prevost (722 F2d 960, 973-974 [1983]) "the New York State civil [involuntary] commitment [of persons, who are mentally ill and in need of care and treatment, due to the fact that they are a danger to themselves] scheme, considered as a whole * * * meets minimum due process standards without the addition of an overt act requirement”.
After our review of the record before us, we find that the hearing court erred in its determination in this matter. This conclusion is based upon the fact that we find that respondents, NYCHHC and Bellevue, have met their burden of presenting "clear and convincing proof’ (Addington v Texas, *362441 US 418, supra) that Ms. Boggs should be involuntarily retained in a mental hospital for treatment, since she, at the present time, suffers from a mental illness, which if untreated "is likely to result in serious harm to [herself]” (Mental Hygiene Law § 9.39 [a] [1]). Our analysis is set forth infra.
It is well established in this State that a person may be involuntarily confined for care and treatment, where his or her mental illness manifests itself in neglect or refusal to care for themselves to such an extent that there is presented "serious harm” to their own well-being (see, for example, Matter of Scopes, 59 AD2d 203, 205 [3d Dept 1977]; Matter of Carl C., 126 AD2d 640 [2d Dept 1987]).
We have held in City Univ. v Finalco, Inc. (129 AD2d 494, 495 [1st Dept 1987]), that "[findings of fact [of a trial court] should not be disturbed unless such findings could not have been reached under any fair interpretation of the evidence. (Parone v Rivers, 84 AD2d 686 [1981])”. In the instant case, we must make our own findings of fact, since there is no fair interpretation of the evidence that can support the fact findings of the hearing court, and we reject these findings. The Court of Appeals, unanimously, in Northern Westchester Professional Park Assocs. v Town of Bedford (60 NY2d 492, 499 [1983]), held that the authority of the Appellate Division "is as broad as that of [a] trial court * * * and * * * it may render the judgment it finds warranted by the facts”.
We find very significant the testimony of Dr. Hess, who is the only psychiatrist who observed Ms. Boggs in the street; the testimony of Ms. Putnam, the psychiatric social worker, who testified as to the year-long observation of Ms. Boggs by herself and other staff members of Project HELP, concerning Ms. Boggs’ activities in the street; the testimony of treating psychiatrist Dr. Mahon and the record of East Orange, all of which indicate if Ms. Boggs is not retained in involuntary confinement "serious harm” will befall her. In passing, we note the responses of Dr. Patel, Ms. Boggs’ own psychiatrist to the hypothetical questions propounded to him, set forth supra.
Dr. Hess observed Ms. Boggs in the street, during a period that extended from July to October 1987. In contrast, none of Ms. Boggs’ three psychiatrists observed her outside of the hospital, which, unlike the street, is a structured, safe environment. Dr. Mahon testified that she believes that a trusting relationship is beginning to develop between her and Ms. Boggs, and given some time, "there may indeed be a relation*363ship built up which would allow this woman to choose a better style of living”.
Furthermore, Dr. Mahon testified that some of Ms. Boggs’ improvement, since being admitted to the hospital, might be attributable to the small dose of medication that Ms. Boggs received when she was first admitted to the hospital by Dr. Gabriel. Moreover, Dr. Mahon testified that Ms. Boggs is not now ready to be an outpatient, since she presently has no capacity to comprehend her need for food, clothing or shelter, and, in addition, Ms. Boggs cannot comprehend obvious danger. Finally, Dr. Mahon testified that if Ms. Boggs is released, she will deteriorate, and then she would be suicidal. A threat of serious harm to a mentally ill person "can result from a refusal or inability to meet [her] essential needs for food, clothing or shelter” (Matter of Carl C., supra).
The undisputed evidence, in the record, indicates that Ms. Boggs held responsible employment until 1984. Following that time, her mental condition began to deteriorate, causing her admission to East Orange General Hospital in 1985, and finally culminating in her involuntary commitment to Bellevue on October 28, 1987.
Numerous examples of Ms. Boggs’ mental deterioration are found in this record, such as beginning in May 1987, Ms. Boggs’ behavior became more provocative; Ms. Boggs began to chase the Project HELP staff and other individuals, particularly black males; she began at that time to scream racial epithets at deliverymen and others and used an umbrella to keep persons away from her; during August and September of this year, Ms. Boggs became more aggressive and less inhibited, displaying her bare buttocks and continuing to chase those who approached her; her level of self-care also deteriorated at that time, and Ms. Putnam testified that she personally observed fecal matter on the sheets in which Ms. Boggs wrapped herself; significantly, Ms. Boggs told Dr. Mahon that she often defecated and urinated on herself.
Although Ms. Boggs has never been involuntarily admitted to a city hospital, prior to her hospitalization in Bellevue in October 1987, in fact, on at least two occasions when petitioner was taken by Project HELP to Metropolitan Hospital in the spring of 1987, she was diagnosed as schizophrenic. Further, when she was brought into Bellevue Hospital on October 28, 1987, she admitted to "running in front of moving cars in heavy traffic”. Dr. Mahon testified that when she saw Ms. *364Billie Boggs for the first time on October 29, 1987, Ms. Boggs screamed obscenities at her and physically threatened her.
Dr. Gould, one of Ms. Boggs’ expert witnesses, testified that a psychiatrist may make a prediction of future violent behavior, if there has been violent behavior in the past. We find that the evidence presented in this case clearly and convincingly demonstrates Ms. Boggs’ past history of assaultive and aggressive behavior.
Dr. Patel, another of Ms. Boggs’ experts, testified that in determining if someone is mentally ill, he would look for evidence of drug abuse or other such self-destructive behavior. Ms. Boggs admitted a history of drug abuse, and her admission to the emergency room doctor, Dr. Gabriel, that she walks in front of moving cars, is clearly evidence of self-destructive behavior.
We find a significant concession in the testimony of Dr. Patel, who, as mentioned supra, was one of Ms. Boggs’ experts, wherein he admitted on cross-examination that his clinical impression of Ms. Boggs would be different, if it were true that she urinates and defecates on herself, that she used abusive and obscene language to passersby, and that she has stated there was a connection between her accepting money and sexual encounters with black men. Thus, if respondents’ characterization of the petitioner’s behavior on the street is accepted, it would appear that Dr. Patel would agree that Ms. Boggs required treatment and care in a hospital.
In its opinion (136 Misc 2d 1082, 1086, supra) the hearing court states, in substance, that the respondents’ psychiatrists and the psychiatrists who testified on behalf of Ms. Boggs "are nearly diametrically opposed in their assessment of [Ms. Boggs’] mental condition and in their predictions as to whether she is likely to cause herself or others harm. Thus I [the hearing court] derive little psychiatric guidance from them and therefore place great weight on the demeanor, behavior and testimony of [Ms. Boggs] herself’.
We find that the hearing court erred in placing "great weight on the demeanor, behavior and testimony” of Ms. Boggs, since the hearing court does not claim that the demeanor and behavior of Ms. Boggs, when she appeared before it, remotely resembled the demeanor and behavior she exhibited when she lived on the streets, and was involuntarily committed to Bellevue on October 28, 1987.
It is hardly surprising that the hearing court stated (supra, *365136 Misc 2d, at 1087) "Throughout her testimony [Ms. Boggs] was rational, logical, coherent. Her use of English, both in syntax and vocabulary, is very good and bespeaks an educated, intelligent person. She displayed a sense of humor, pride, a fierce independence of spirit, quick mental reflexes”, in view of the fact that, when Ms. Boggs was in the courtroom, she had recently been bathed, was dressed in clean clothes, and had just received approximately a week of hospital treatment. Dr. Patel, one of Ms. Boggs’ own experts, acknowledged in his testimony that psychiatric theory recognizes that a mentally ill person can go through a period of remission in the hospital.
In view of the evidence found in the record, which indicates that Ms. Boggs has a propensity to lie, there is no reason to believe that this mentally ill woman did not lie to the hearing court. Dr. Patel, who, as mentioned supra, was one of Ms. Boggs’ experts, testified that Ms. Boggs "lied to me [Dr. Patel]”.
Moreover, Ms. Boggs pursued a pattern of lying to both the respondents’ psychiatrists as well as her own psychiatrists about her prior history before she began living in the streets. In this connection, Ms. Boggs misled these psychiatrists, by telling them that for 15 years she had been involved in a relationship with a man, and that when that relationship ended 5 years ago, Ms. Boggs began living in the streets. However, that history is not true. In 1984, she was working as a secretary in New Jersey, and, in 1985, she was living with her sister in a home in New Jersey; and Ms. James testified that in 1985 Ms. Boggs worked as a secretary in New Jersey, and it was not until the spring of 1986 that Ms. Boggs left Ms. James’ home.
We reject, as against the weight of the evidence, the hearing court’s conclusion that, in substance, Ms. Boggs’ homelessness is not a result of serious mental illness, but, rather, is the result of New York’s lack of housing for the poor.
The hearing court, and our opposing brothers on this Bench, have recognized the horrible situation of the homeless in this city. This expression of compassion is not limited to them. It is shared by all, and, although we deplore, with our fellow New Yorkers, the tragedy of the homeless in this city, their plight is not the issue in this case. The sole issue before us is whether Ms. Boggs is so severely mentally ill that, unless she continues to receive hospital treatment, she is in danger of doing serious harm to herself.
*366In summary, less than two years ago, Ms. Boggs was a productive member of society, who had a continuous work history of almost a decade, in which she had been employed in responsible positions by Bell Laboratories, and a Human Rights Commission in Elizabeth, New Jersey; at that time, besides a job, she had a home and a family; however, in 1985 she suffered a "severe psychosis”, which resulted in her admission to East Orange, where, inter alia, she was placed in four-point restraints, and treated with large doses of Thorazine; thereafter, we find the clear and convincing evidence indicates that, while living in the streets for the past year, Ms. Boggs’ mental condition has deteriorated to the point where she was in danger of doing serious harm to herself when, on October 28, 1987, she was involuntarily admitted to respondent Bellevue for treatment; and, based upon the entire record and not selective portions thereof, we further find that clear and convincing evidence supports the continued involuntary confinement of Ms. Boggs to the hospital for treatment.
Accordingly, order, Supreme Court, New York County (Robert D. Lippmann, J.), entered November 12, 1987, which granted the petition of Ms. Billie Boggs, and directed her release from respondent Bellevue Hospital by 6:00 p.m. on November 12, 1987, is reversed, on the law and on the facts, petition is denied and the proceeding is dismissed, without costs.