Court Opinion

ID: 3144564
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 18:03:43.369431+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:06:54.402670
License: Public Domain

No. 2--07--0379      Filed: 4-16-08
______________________________________________________________________________

                                             IN THE

                              APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

In re LISA P., Alleged to be a Person  ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
Subject to Involuntary Treatment       ) of Kane County.
                                       )
                                       ) No. 06--MH--146
                                       )
(The People of the State of Illinois,  ) Honorable
Petitioner-Appellee, v. Lisa P.,       ) James C. Hallock,
Respondent-Appellant).                 ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

       JUSTICE HUTCHINSON delivered the opinion of the court:

       Respondent, Lisa P., was found unfit to stand trial on a felony charge not specified in the

record. She was transferred to the Elgin Mental Health Center (EMHC), where Dr. Mirella Susnjar

treated her. Dr. Susnjar subsequently petitioned to involuntarily administer psychotropic medication

to respondent pursuant to section 2--107.1 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code

(Code) (405 ILCS 5/2--107.1 (West 2006)). The trial court granted the petition, and respondent

appealed. On appeal, respondent contends that the State failed to prove that she is a person subject

to the involuntary administration of psychotropic medication. We affirm.

       The hearing on the petition to involuntarily administer psychotropic medication to respondent

took place on February 16, 2007. At that hearing, Dr. Susnjar testified that respondent was admitted

to the EMHC on August 31, 2006. When respondent was admitted, she could not accept that she

had been put in jail and sent to the EMHC for treatment. Respondent rambled on incoherently about
No. 2--07--0379

her situation, believing that the government was against her because she said or wrote something

about President Bush.

        During her testimony, Dr. Susnjar described various incidents at the EMHC that involved

respondent and warranted staff intervention. On September 4, 2006, respondent's rights were

restricted and medication was given to her because she was yelling, singing, and swearing.

Respondent threatened to hit the nurse who was attempting to treat her, and, as a result, respondent

was put in leather restraints for one hour. The medication respondent was given caused her to be

much calmer the following day. On October 4, 2006, respondent's rights were again restricted

because she insulted a nurse, was singing about the country, and insisted that she was going to

contact the police about her court-ordered treatment. In addition to restricting her rights, Dr. Susnjar

gave respondent medication. Respondent was not violent after she was medicated. On October 24,

2006, respondent was again given medication to prevent violent outbursts. The next day, respondent

appeared much calmer. On November 2, 2006, respondent phoned doctors at Kane County

Diagnostic and harassed them. Dr. Susnjar intervened, restricting respondent's phone privileges.

        Aside from medicating respondent on September 4, October 4, and October 24, 2006, Dr.

Susnjar prescribed other medications to respondent to treat her illness. Respondent sporadically

agreed to take an antidepressant and a very low dose of a neuroleptic. Dr. Susnjar later specified that

respondent took Celexa and Risperdal. Dr. Susnjar was not sure whether respondent was taking the

medication she was given, and, even if she was ingesting the medication, Dr. Susnjar believed that

the very low dosages of the medication were not enough to treat respondent's illness. Dr. Susnjar

believed that respondent's random taking of medication was proof of her inability to understand her

illness and seek appropriate treatment. Dr. Susnjar testified that respondent may have agreed to take

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medication sporadically in the past so that she could claim that she was suffering from side effects.

When Dr. Susnjar conducted her daily observations of respondent, she never saw that respondent was

suffering from any side effects. Moreover, Dr. Susnjar believed that respondent may have consented

to taking medication when she was more lucid.

          During respondent's stay at the EMHC, Dr. Susnjar performed a psychiatric examination of

her, which consisted of talking with her, speaking with the staff who treated her, and reviewing her

treatment records for her current and two previous admissions. According to her treatment records,

respondent took Seroquel in the past, but she discontinued this treatment when, among other things,

she was arrested. Based on the psychiatric examination, Dr. Susnjar diagnosed respondent as

suffering from schizo-affective disorder of the bipolar type, which Dr. Susnjar testified is a serious

illness. This illness caused respondent to exhibit rage and feel paranoid even when her mood was

stable.

          Dr. Susnjar stated that respondent's illness had caused her to experience a deterioration in her

ability to function. In reaching that conclusion, Dr. Susnjar noted that seven years ago respondent

was very successful. She had graduated from Northwestern University, she was able to work as a

paralegal, and she owned a condominium. Now, respondent was homeless, and she had been arrested

for committing many felonies. Moreover, Dr. Susnjar testified that respondent's mental illness had

caused her to suffer. For example, respondent believed that her entire family was "after [her]," that

the world was evil, and that she was a victim. Respondent also exhibited threatening behavior, such

as threatening to initiate legal action, getting "into your face," and making "you feel that you need to

walk on egg shells 24 hours [a day] because [her anger] will escalate and [she will] explode." Despite

her threats, respondent had not physically harmed anyone.

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       Based on her interaction with respondent and her evaluation, Dr. Susnjar concluded that

respondent lacked the capacity to make a decision about taking psychotropic medication. Dr. Susnjar

testified that respondent's illness caused her to distort reality and prevented her from understanding

her problems. Dr. Susnjar testified that respondent's illness prevented her from understanding her

available options and their advantages and disadvantages. Dr. Susnjar believed to a reasonable degree

of psychiatric certainty that the benefits of respondent taking psychotropic medication clearly

outweighed the possible harm, and she sought to administer Risperdal Consta, lorazepam, Zydis, and

quetiapine.

       Respondent testified that she opposed the petition to administer psychotropic medication

because it violated her constitutional rights. Although respondent had taken some of the medication

that Dr. Susnjar wanted to administer, respondent did not wish to take additional medication because

she did not believe that she had a mental illness, and, thus, she claimed that she did not belong at the

EMHC. Respondent believed that her illness was neurological. Respondent testified that, when she

took the medication prescribed to her, she suffered from insomnia and felt light-headed, dizzy, and

nauseous.

       When asked about whether she had exhibited threatening behavior, respondent stated that Dr.

Susnjar perceives people as threatening when they assert their rights. Respondent acknowledged that

she had called a few organizations to complain about the condition of the EMHC, the treatment the

patients receive, fraud perpetrated at the EMHC, and the staff's misconduct. Respondent did not

believe that she had caused the staff at the EMHC to "walk on egg shells" when they were around

her, noting that she had a good rapport with several staff members, including Dr. Susnjar.

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        The trial court granted the petition to involuntarily administer psychotropic medication and

authorized the administration of certain designated medications for a period of 90 days. In so doing,

the trial court found Dr. Susnjar's testimony very credible. The trial court noted that respondent

either was not ingesting the medication she was given or was not given a dosage of medicine that was

sufficient to treat her illness. The trial court then found that respondent had exhibited a deterioration

in her ability to function and that she was suffering. In denying respondent's motion to reconsider,

the trial judge commented that, "every time [he had] ever seen this [respondent], [he] thought she was

suffering." Respondent timely appealed.

        On appeal, respondent argues that the State failed to prove that she is a person subject to the

involuntary administration of psychotropic medication. Before addressing the merits, we note that

the issue is moot because the 90-day period covered by the trial court's order has already expired.

In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d 30, 45 (2004). Nevertheless, we choose to consider the issue pursuant

to the public-interest exception to the mootness doctrine. Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 45 (public-interest

exception to mootness doctrine applies if the question raised is of a public nature, an authoritative

determination on the issue could help guide public officers, and it is likely that the issue will recur).

        Psychotropic medication may not be administered against the will of an adult recipient of

mental health services unless clear and convincing evidence establishes that each of the following

factors is 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

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        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) *** 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."

        405 ILCS 5/2--107.1(a--5)(4)(A) through (a--5)(4)(G) (West 2006).

        Clear and convincing evidence is that quantum of proof that leaves no doubt in the fact

finder's mind about the truth of the proposition in question. In re John R., 339 Ill. App. 3d 778, 781

(2003). Although essentially stated in terms of reasonable doubt, clear and convincing evidence

amounts to more than a preponderance, while not quite reaching the degree of proof necessary to

convict an individual of a criminal charge. In re M.T., 371 Ill. App. 3d 318, 323 (2007).

        On appeal, a reviewing court must give great deference to the trial court's factual findings,

because the trial court stands in the best position to assess the witnesses' credibility. In re Jeffers, 239

Ill. App. 3d 29, 35 (1992). We may not reverse an order permitting the involuntary administration

of psychotropic medication unless the trial court's findings are against the manifest weight of the

evidence. In re Israel, 278 Ill. App. 3d 24, 35 (1996). A judgment is considered against the manifest

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weight of the evidence only when the opposite conclusion is apparent or when the trial court's

findings are unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on the evidence. In re Dorothy J.N., 373 Ill. App.

3d 332, 335 (2007).

        Here, respondent essentially advances two reasons why the State failed to prove by clear and

convincing evidence that she is a person subject to the involuntary administration of psychotropic

medication. Respondent argues that the State failed to establish (1) that she lacked the capacity to

make a reasoned decision about taking medication, and (2) that she was suffering or exhibited a

deterioration in her ability to function. We address each contention in turn.

        We first consider whether respondent lacked the capacity to make a reasoned decision about

taking medication. In addressing this issue, courts consider six factors. Israel, 278 Ill. App. 3d at 37.

Those are:

                "(1) [T]he person's knowledge that he has a choice to make;

                (2) The person's ability to understand the available options, their advantages and

        disadvantages;

                (3) Whether the commitment is voluntary or involuntary;

                (4) Whether the person has previously received the type of medication or treatment

        at issue;

                (5) If the person has received similar treatment in the past, whether he can describe

        what happened as a result and how the effects were beneficial or harmful; and

                (6) The absence of any interfering pathological perceptions or beliefs or interfering

        emotional states which might prevent an understanding of legitimate risks or benefits." Israel,

        278 Ill. App. 3d at 37.

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When assessing these factors, courts should not find any one factor dispositive. Israel, 278 Ill. App.

3d at 37.

          We now consider respondent's argument in light of the above-listed factors. First, we

acknowledge that respondent knows that she may choose whether to take medication. The evidence

presented at the hearing revealed that respondent agreed to take some medication in the past and that

she withdrew her consent at various times. Respondent testified that she did not wish to follow Dr.

Susnjar's recommended treatment, and this, in itself, reveals that she knows that she has the right to

refuse.

          Second, the record reflects that respondent lacks the ability to understand the available

options, including their advantages and disadvantages. Despite Dr. Susnjar's professional diagnosis,

respondent asserts that she does not suffer from a mental illness and that she does not belong at the

EMHC. Rather, respondent contends that any malady she has is neurological. Clearly, because

respondent does not believe that she has a mental illness, she cannot reasonably consider the

advantages and disadvantages of the administration of any psychotropic medication.

          Third, the evidence presented revealed that respondent was found unfit to stand trial on a

felony charge. As a result, respondent was transferred to the EMHC, where Dr. Susnjar treated her.

Respondent's commitment to the EMHC was thus involuntary.

          Fourth, the record reflects that respondent had received the same or similar types of

medication in the past. The evidence revealed that respondent previously received mental health

treatment twice. In the past, she was treated with Seroquel, which is used to treat schizophrenia and

bipolar disorders. Although respondent took this medication, Dr. Susnjar was not able to determine

whether it had a positive effect on respondent's mental illness, as respondent stopped taking this

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medication soon after treatment began. Dr. Susnjar attempted to treat respondent with Seroquel

during her current admission at the EMHC. Respondent refused to be so medicated and asked Dr.

Susnjar whether she could receive Risperdal instead. Dr. Susnjar agreed to administer Risperdal.

Respondent also took Celexa, which is an antidepressant. Although respondent was given various

psychotropic medications, the EMHC staff was not sure whether respondent was actually ingesting

the medications. Further, during respondent's current stay at the EMHC, she was treated with

medication on an emergency basis. She responded quite well to the medication given at those times.

Each time that respondent received that medication, she appeared much less violent and calmer

afterwards.

       Fifth, although respondent received similar treatment in the past, she could not effectively

describe how the medication affected her. Respondent claimed that she suffered from many side

effects as a direct result of taking the psychotropic medication that had been prescribed by Dr.

Susnjar. Specifically, respondent contended that she suffered from insomnia and felt dizzy, nauseous,

and light-headed after being medicated. However, Dr. Susnjar stated that respondent may have

chosen to take medication only so that she could later claim that she suffered from side effects.

Respondent was monitored for side effects, and Dr. Susnjar, whom the trial court found very credible,

never observed that respondent suffered from any side effects associated with taking psychotropic

medication.

       Sixth, Dr. Susnjar testified that respondent's rage and paranoia affected her decision-making

ability. Specifically, Dr. Susnjar stated that "[respondent's] illness is preventing her [from] see[ing]

what is her problem" and causes her to distort reality.

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       After considering each of the above six factors, we hold that the trial court's finding by clear

and convincing evidence that respondent lacked the capacity to make a reasoned decision concerning

the medication at issue was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

       Citing the fact that she had consented to taking psychotropic medication in the past,

respondent argues that the State failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that, because of a

mental illness, she lacked the capacity to make a reasoned decision about taking psychotropic

medication. However, the mere fact that respondent consented to taking some medication in the past

does not mean that she possessed the capacity to make a reasoned decision about engaging in similar

treatment in the future. The evidence established that, although respondent consented to taking

medication, she never consented to the type and amount of medication that was necessary to treat

her mental illness. Further, respondent's consent was not necessarily based on the fact that she

believed that the medication would help treat her illness. Rather, according to Dr. Susnjar,

respondent agreed to be medicated because, among other things, she thought that she could then

claim that she suffered from side effects and thus stop taking the prescribed medication. Moreover,

respondent was not prescribed all of the medication that Dr. Susnjar wished to administer. A

respondent's consent to take one type of medication does not preclude the State from seeking to

administer another type of medication. Israel, 278 Ill. App. 3d at 31-32. Given these facts, we find

respondent's consent to take medication in the past to be of little value in evaluating whether she

possessed the ability to make a reasoned decision about whether to take medication presently.

       The next issue we consider is whether the State proved by clear and convincing evidence that

respondent was suffering or exhibited a deterioration in her ability to function. Because the

legislature used the word "or," the State needed to establish only one condition specified in section

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2--107.1(a--5)(4)(B) of the Code (see 405 ILCS 5/2--107.1(a--5)(4)(B) (West 2006); People ex rel.

Aramburu v. City of Chicago, 73 Ill. App. 2d 184, 192 (1966)). In any event, we determine that the

trial court properly found clear and convincing evidence that respondent both was suffering and

exhibited a deterioration in her ability to function.

        First, the evidence established that respondent was suffering. Dr. Susnjar stated that

respondent believed that she was a victim, that the world was evil, and that her entire family was

"after [her]." The trial court, to which we must defer (Jeffers, 239 Ill. App. 3d at 35), specifically

commented that every time it observed respondent it believed that respondent was suffering. We

cannot conclude that this finding was against the manifest weight of the evidence.

        Second, the evidence also established that respondent exhibited a deterioration in her ability

to function. Seven years before respondent's most recent admission to the EMHC, she was a

successful paralegal, having graduated from Northwestern University. At that time, respondent

owned her own condominium. Now, respondent has lost her home and job. Although the mere fact

that respondent is unemployed and homeless does not establish that she suffered a deterioration in

her ability to function (see In re Kness, 277 Ill. App. 3d 711, 719 (1996); In re Winters, 255 Ill. App.

3d 605, 610 (1994)), other evidence supports that reasonable conclusion.

        When respondent was admitted to the EMHC in August 2006, she did not believe that she

was there because she had been found unfit to stand trial. Instead, respondent thought that the

federal government was punishing her because she had expressed some negative views about

President Bush. Moreover, during her stay at the EMHC, respondent frequently overreacted to minor

confrontations. In the two months after she was admitted, respondent engaged in conduct so

inappropriate that she had to be restrained and/or medicated. Dr. Susnjar stated that respondent's

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behavior caused the EMHC staff to be very cautious of how they approached her, for fear that her

rage would escalate and that she would "explode." Given these facts, we determine that the finding

that respondent exhibited a deterioration in her ability to function was not against the manifest weight

of the evidence.

        For these reasons, we conclude that the trial court's determination that respondent was subject

to the involuntary administration of psychotropic medication was not against the manifest weight of

the evidence. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Kane County.

        Affirmed.

        McLAREN and GILLERAN JOHNSON, JJ., concur.

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