Court Opinion

ID: 9678825
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:33:19.104937+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:08.207781
License: Public Domain

NUCHIA, Justice,
dissenting.
I dissent from the Court’s judgment reversing the judgment of the trial court. A schizophrenic patient’s refusal to take medicine is clear and convincing evidence that he will, if not treated, continue to suffer severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress.
The majority insists that this is merely evidence that an individual is mentally ill and in need of hospitalization. But, an individual with schizophrenia who does not take his medication ends up in a downward spiral of mental and emotional degradation. The evidence presented at the hearing supports that.
*391Psychiatrist Douglas Samuels testified the appellant suffered from auditory hallucinations and had disorganized, paranoid thinking. Samuels further determined that ■without medication or further evaluation, the appellant would continue to suffer severe, abnormal mental and emotional or physical distress, and his ability to function independently would deteriorate.
In her medical certificate, Dr. Lisa Green recommended emergency detention because the “patient’s mental state is affecting his behavior such that he is at risk for self-harm and harm to others.” Dr. Frederick Moeller states in his medical certificate that the appellant is likely to cause serious harm to himself or others because of his paranoid, delusional thinking and his refusal of all treatment. Dr. Moeller also states the appellant is unable to care for himself.
The majority follows the reasoning of the Corpus Christi and San Antonio Courts of Appeals and holds the State did not present specific instances of overt behavior. I would not.
I would find the continuous refusal to take medication an overt behavior and find the evidence sufficient to support the trial court’s finding that the appellant will, if not treated, continue to suffer severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress, and his condition will deteriorate.