Court Opinion

ID: 3143184
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 17:58:19.102707+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:14:58.645157
License: Public Domain

No. 2--05--1214                   filed: 12-20-06
______________________________________________________________________________

                                             IN THE

                              APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

In re DRU G., Alleged to be a Person in) Appeal from the Circuit Court
Need of Involuntary Psychotropic       ) of Kane County.
Medication                             )
                                       ) No. 05--MH--128
                                       )
(The People of the State of Illinois,  ) Honorable
Petitioner-Appellee, v. Dru G.,        ) James C. Hallock,
Respondent-Appellant).                 ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

       JUSTICE BOWMAN delivered the opinion of the court:

       Respondent, Dru G., appeals from an order of the circuit court of Kane County authorizing

the involuntary administration of psychotropic medication. On appeal, respondent argues that she

was denied due process when a psychologist instead of a psychiatrist was appointed to independently

evaluate her. We reverse.

                                       I. BACKGROUND

       Respondent was found unfit to stand trial for an unauthorized-use-of-a-credit-card charge

brought against her in 2005. She was admitted to the Elgin Mental Health Center (EMHC) on July

27, 2005, and was treated by Dr. Carol Rosanova, a psychiatrist at the EMHC. In Dr. Rosanova's

opinion, respondent suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and would benefit from psychotropic

medications. Dr. Rosanova believes the benefits of respondent taking psychotropic medications

would clearly outweigh the possible harm. She prescribed several medications: Olanzapine at 10 to

15 milligrams; Risperdal at 2 to 6 milligrams; Quetiapine at 200 to 600 milligrams; and Aripiprazole
No. 2--05--1214

at 10 to 30 milligrams. Dr. Rosanova further prescribed Haldol in the event respondent would not

take the medications voluntarily.

       Respondent took one dose of Risperdal early in her admission but subsequently refused

medication and stated that she was not mentally ill. Respondent insisted that she suffered from

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), lupus, and narcolepsy, and she demanded Adderall,

which is a controlled substance for treating ADHD. Respondent told Dr. Rosanova that her

physician, Dr. Powell, prescribed her Adderall in the past.

       On September 13, 2005, Dr. Rosanova filed a petition for the involuntary administration of

psychotropic medications pursuant to section 2--107.1 of the Mental Health and Developmental

Disabilities Code (Code) (405 ILCS 5/2--107.1 (West 2004)). On September 23, 2005, when the

matter was up for status, respondent's attorney requested a continuance in order to obtain an

independent evaluation. Respondent requested that an independent evaluation be performed by Dr.

Powell pursuant to section 3--804 of the Code (405 ILCS 5/3--804 (West 2004)). Respondent's

public guardian appeared at the September 23 status hearing and objected to having Dr. Powell

appointed for the independent evaluation. The guardian refused to pay for his services, stating that

Dr. Powell's diagnosis of ADHD and treatment with Adderall were contrary to all other medical

opinions since 2003 and that his treatment was detrimental to respondent. The guardian would pay

for another physician to perform the evaluation, however.

       The court found that, based on the guardian's information, an independent evaluation by Dr.

Powell was not in respondent's best interests, and it continued the matter for one week so respondent

could arrange for an independent evaluation by another qualified expert. Dr. Powell's medical

specialty was unclear because the attorneys and Dr. Rosanova were unable to contact Dr. Powell.

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Regardless, it appears that Dr. Powell was a medical doctor, as the fact that he prescribed Adderall

for respondent is not contested in the record.

       At the next status hearing, on September 30, 2005, respondent's attorney stated that she was

not able to find a private doctor to evaluate respondent and she requested that the Kane County

Diagnostic Center be ordered to perform the evaluation. The colloquy of the request transpired as

follows:

               "MS. KULLENGERG [Attorney for respondent]:                 My understanding is the

       guardian's, public guardian's office will pay for an independent evaluation, but I have not been

       able to obtain anyone, private doctors, to agree to come out here and do the evaluation so I'm

       requesting that the Kane County Diagnostic Center be ordered to perform the evaluation and

       then the guardian's office will work out a payment situation. I'm not asking them not to pay

       since there is some kind of money.

               MS. POTTER [Assistant State's Attorney]: No objection, your Honor.

               THE COURT: At this time the Kane County Diagnostic Center will be ordered to do

       the independent examination, and we probably need about a three-week date."

       On October 21, 2005, the matter was continued without objection because the Kane County

Diagnostic Center needed additional time to complete the evaluation. Respondent's presence at this

status hearing was waived by counsel. The Kane County Diagnostic Center arranged for Dr. Timothy

Brown, a clinical psychologist, to perform the independent evaluation of respondent. Dr. Brown

evaluated respondent on October 24, 2005. Two days later, he issued his report recommending the

administration of psychotropic medications. Dr. Brown's report was based on his interview with

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respondent, EMHC medical records, and discussions with Dr. Rosanova and other social workers

working with respondent at the EMHC.

       The matter was heard on November 14, 2005, and respondent moved pro se for a continuance

in order to obtain an independent evaluation by Dr. Powell. The court stated that the matter was

already continued so that the Kane County Diagnostic Center could perform an evaluation.

Respondent stated:

       "Your Honor, I know nothing about the Kane County Diagnostic. I had asked for an

       independent evaluation. My doctor on the outside, Dr. Powell, who has seen me every three

       weeks for an hour knows everything about me, so I am asking for a continuance."

The court denied respondent's pro se motion, and petitioner called Dr. Rosanova to testify. Dr.

Rosanova stated that lupus had been ruled out by a primary care physician at the EMHC and that

based on observation, respondent showed no signs of narcolepsy or ADHD. Dr. Rosanova believed

that respondent suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and that the benefits of the psychotropic

medications she prescribed outweighed any of the possible side effects.

       Respondent was called to testify, and during the course of her examination, she stated:

               "I have the right to be tested for ADD. I have the right to be tested for narcolepsy.

                                               ***

               So I am just asking for you to protect my personhood, my integrity, my character, and

       my rights, and before you start giving all these medications, that you find out that this, they

       affect the autoimmune system, the lupus, that I don't need them."

       The court granted the petition and ordered the medications that Dr. Rosanova prescribed be

administered to respondent for 90 days. Dr. Brown was not called to testify at this hearing but his

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report was made part of the record, without objection from respondent, at the close of the

proceeding. Respondent filed a notice of appeal on December 9, 2005, arguing that she was denied

due process because a psychologist was not an appropriate expert to satisfy her right to an

independent evaluation. For the following reasons, we agree.

                                           II. ARGUMENT

                                              A. Mootness

        We first address preliminary issues raised by petitioner. Petitioner argues that respondent's

issue is moot because the order was granted for no more than 90 days.1 We disagree. Reviewing

courts may review otherwise moot issues pursuant to the public interest exception. In re Robert S.,

213 Ill. 2d 30, 45 (2004). The public interest exception applies when three criteria are present: (1)

the question is of a public nature; (2) an authoritative determination for the purpose of guiding public

officers is desired; and (3) the question will likely recur. In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 45. This case

satisfies those criteria. Based on respondent's psychiatric history and prior refusal to take

psychotropic medications voluntarily, the issue of whether a psychologist is an appropriate expert in

this type of proceeding is likely to recur in future proceedings. This issue is certainly one of a public

nature, and an authoritative determination of this issue is desirable to guide public officers handling

such cases; therefore, we apply the public interest exception to the mootness doctrine.

        1
         Petitioner also attached an affidavit and exhibit to its brief in support of the argument that

the Kane County Diagnostic Center's proposal to use only psychiatrists for evaluations pertaining to

involuntary-administration-of-psychotropic-medication proceedings makes respondent's issue moot.

However, petitioner's exhibit is not part of the record and will not be considered by this court.

McCarty v. Weatherford, 362 Ill. App. 3d 308, 311 (2005).

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                                               B. Waiver

        Next, we address petitioner's argument that respondent waived her right to an independent

evaluation by a psychiatrist when respondent's attorney requested the appointment of the Kane

County Diagnostic Center and failed to object to the admission of Dr. Brown's report. We reject

petitioner's argument for three reasons.

        First, we find that respondent did request an evaluation by a physician through her request for

Dr. Powell at the September 23 hearing and further objected to the appointment of the Kane County

Diagnostic Center when she moved pro se for a continuance at the November 14 hearing. While

respondent's soliloquy may not be a textbook-quality objection, she nonetheless stated to the court

that she knew nothing about the Kane County Diagnostic Center and requested an independent

evaluation by her private physician, Dr. Powell. Therefore, we find that respondent preserved the

issue for the record.

        Even if respondent had waived this issue, "waiver is a limitation on the parties and not the

courts, and, in order to achieve a just result, a reviewing court may ignore waiver, especially in a case

where the State seeks to involuntarily administer psychotropic medication." In re Leslie H., No. 2--

05--0648, slip op. at 3 (July 5, 2006). Considering that the Illinois Supreme Court has noted that the

involuntary administration of psychotropic drugs involves a " ' "massive curtailment of liberty," ' " a

reviewing court may choose to review regardless of whether the respondent waived the issue. In re

Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 46, quoting In re Barbara H., 183 Ill. 2d 482, 496 (1998), quoting Vitek v.

Jones, 445 U.S. 480, 491, 63 L. Ed. 2d 552, 564, 100 S. Ct. 1254, 1263 (1980).

        Finally, petitioner argues that the plain-error doctrine does not apply because this is not a case

where the evidence is closely balanced. The plain-error doctrine allows a reviewing court to address

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a waived or forfeited issue in two circumstances: (1) where the evidence is so closely balanced that

the outcome may have resulted from the error rather than the evidence; or (2) where the error is so

serious that the respondent was denied a substantial right, and thus a fair trial. People v. Herron, 215
Ill. 2d 167, 178-79 (2005). In this case, petitioner glaringly overlooks the second circumstance in

which the plain-error doctrine may apply. As stated, the Illinois Supreme Court has described the

involuntary administration of psychotropic drugs as an act that involves a " ' "massive curtailment of

liberty" ' " (In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 46, quoting In re Barbara H., 183 Ill. 2d at 496, quoting

Vitek, 445 U.S. at 491, 63 L. Ed. 2d at 564, 100 S. Ct. at 1263), and an act that is a " 'particularly

severe' interference with a person's liberty" (In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 46, quoting Riggins v.

Nevada, 504 U.S. 127, 134, 118 L. Ed. 2d 479, 488, 112 S. Ct. 1810, 1814 (1992)). Therefore, even

if respondent waived her right to an independent psychiatric evaluation, the second prong of the plain-

error doctrine applies.

        We now address respondent's appeal on the merits,2 and our review is de novo. In re Robert

S., 213 Ill. 2d at 45 (applying de novo standard of review in determining whether constitutional rights

have been violated and in statutory construction).

                                          C. Section 3--804

        Respondent argues that the November 14 order authorizing the involuntary administration

of psychotropic medication should be reversed because she was denied her right to an independent

        2
         Petitioner also relies on Foutch v. O'Bryant, 99 Ill. 2d 389 (1984), to argue that respondent

failed to provide a complete record. However, respondent supplemented the record with approval

from this court, petitioner was afforded an opportunity to file a surreply brief, and petitioner was not

prejudiced. Therefore, respondent satisfied her burden of supplying a complete record.

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evaluation by a qualified examiner (405 ILCS 5/3--804 (West 2004)) when the court appointed a

psychologist rather than a psychiatrist to evaluate her. Respondent states that because of the court's

error in appointing a psychologist, she was deprived of due process. We agree.

       Section 3--804 of the Code provides as follows:

               "The respondent is entitled to secure an independent examination by a physician,

       qualified examiner, clinical psychologist or other expert of his choice. If the respondent is

       unable to obtain an examination, he may request the court order an examination to be made

       by an impartial medical expert pursuant to Supreme Court Rules or by a qualified examiner,

       clinical psychologist or other expert. Any such physician or other examiner, whether secured

       by the respondent or appointed by the court, may interview by telephone or in person any

       witnesses or other persons listed in the petition for involuntary admission. The physician or

       other examiner may submit to the court a report in which his findings are described in detail.

       Determination of the compensation of the physician, qualified examiner, clinical psychologist

       or other expert and its payment shall be governed by Supreme Court Rule." 405 ILCS 5/3--

       804 (West 2004).

       In In re Robert S., the supreme court analyzed the issue of whether a respondent's due process

rights were violated when the trial court appointed a psychologist rather than a psychiatrist to

evaluate whether the respondent should receive psychotropic medications involuntarily. In re Robert

S., 213 Ill. 2d at 45-46. Although the State attempts to distinguish the facts of that case from the

case at bar, we find In re Robert S. on point and controlling. In that case, the respondent's treating

psychiatrist filed a petition seeking the involuntary administration of psychotropic medications. In

re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 32-33. The court granted the respondent's request for an independent

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evaluation pursuant to section 3--804 of the Code but, because of the higher costs involved with a

psychiatrist, the court appointed a psychologist. In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 35. Counsel for the

respondent objected and requested a psychiatrist who possessed the expertise necessary to evaluate

the appropriateness of the medications recommended for the respondent. In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d

at 35. The respondent's treating psychiatrist and the psychologist appointed by the court both

testified that the benefits of involuntarily administering psychotropic medications to the respondent

would outweigh the possible harms, and the court granted the petition. In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d

at 37-41.

        In its analysis of whether the respondent in In re Robert S. was deprived of due process, the

supreme court set forth the three due process factors outlined in Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319,

335, 47 L. Ed. 2d 18, 33, 96 S. Ct. 893, 903 (1976): (1) the private interest at stake in the official

action; (2) the risk of an erroneous deprivation of such interest through the procedures used and the

probable value, if any, of additional or substitute procedural safeguards; and (3) the government's

interest, including the involved function and the fiscal and administrative burdens that the additional

or substitute procedural requirement would entail. In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 48-49.

        We are undoubtedly dealing with a significant private interest. The forced administration of

psychotropic drugs is a "substantial interference with that person's liberty." Washington v. Harper,

494 U.S. 210, 229, 108 L. Ed. 2d 178, 203, 110 S. Ct. 1028, 1041 (1990). While the purpose of

such drugs is to alter one's brain chemistry to attain beneficial results, the side effects may be serious

and sometimes even permanent or fatal. Washington, 494 U.S. at 229, 108 L. Ed. 2d at 203, 110 S.

Ct. at 1041. As the court in In re Robert S. explained, "the risk of an erroneous deprivation of the

respondent's rights" through the use of a psychologist rather than a psychiatrist is obvious since only

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a physician, such as a psychiatrist, can prescribe medication. In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 52-53.

Physicians possess the knowledge necessary to prescribe medications safely, to recognize the

beneficial effects and possible harmful side effects, and to understand their interactions with other

drugs. A psychologist cannot give meaningful opinions on the possible harmful effects of any

proposed medications.

        Here, respondent moved for an independent evaluation by Dr. Powell, a physician. Section

3--804 does not mandate that the State appoint the exact examiner requested by a respondent. In re

R.C., 338 Ill. App. 3d 103, 112 (2003). However, a qualified examiner must be appointed upon the

respondent's request. The statute plainly states that if the respondent is unable to obtain an

examination, the respondent may request that the court order "an examination to be made by an

impartial medical expert" or by "a qualified examiner, clinical psychologist, or other expert." 405

ILCS 5/3--804 (West 2004). Thus, respondent, like the respondent in In re Robert S., was deprived

of section 3--804's intended safeguard of having what is essentially a second opinion by a qualified

expert, which in this case would be a medical doctor. In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 53.

        Petitioner attempts to distinguish In re Robert S. by pointing to the fact that the supreme

court reversed the trial court's order because it found cost to be an insufficient government interest

to justify the risks of having a psychologist evaluate the respondent. Petitioner's interpretation of In

re Robert S. oversimplifies the spirit of the holding. We agree that in this case, cost was not an issue.

The record states that respondent's public guardian was willing to pay for any private doctor other

than Dr. Powell. However, the holding in In re Robert S., while stating that cost was an insufficient

government interest in which to risk the potentially harmful consequences that could result from a

less than fully informed decision to administer psychotropic medications, focused on the fact that a

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psychologist could not provide a meaningful evaluation. In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 54. The court

specifically stated:

        "We believe the circuit court failed to appreciate the significant difference in expertise

        between a psychiatrist and a psychologist, and the safeguards that another psychiatrist would

        have provided in the decisionmaking process.

        ***

        *** We believe respondent was denied 'a level playing field' and a fundamental right of due

        process: the opportunity to be heard in a meaningful manner." In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at

        54-55.

        Furthermore, the court addressed the language of the statute, finding that the legislature used

terms such as "physician," "medical expert," and "qualified examiner" interchangeably because it

recognized that section 3--804 deals with proceedings for involuntary commitment and involuntary

administration of medications. In re Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 55. The use of the disjunctive language

"apprise[s] circuit courts of the need to appoint an expert appropriate to the proceeding in question,"

which, in forced-medication proceedings, is an expert qualified to prescribe such medications. In re

Robert S., 213 Ill. 2d at 55.

        Here, respondent was denied an opportunity to be heard in a meaningful manner when she

was denied the right to a second opinion by a physician who could weigh the benefits and risks of her

receiving psychotropic medications. Respondent's attorney stated that she could not find a doctor

willing to perform the evaluation in the time between the September 23 and the September 30 status

hearings, and she requested that the court appoint the Kane County Diagnostic Center. That request,

in and of itself, should not be interpreted as a request for an unqualified examiner, nor does the reason

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for respondent's counsel's request provide sufficient grounds for denying respondent the right to the

proper type of expert. In light of the decision in In re Robert S., which was issued several months

prior to respondent's hospital admission, the court should have appointed a psychiatrist, or ensured

that the Kane County Diagnostic Center used one, to evaluate respondent and to satisfy her due

process rights.

       This outcome is consistent with preceding cases that strictly construed procedural safeguards

found in the Code when individuals were faced with the prospect of involuntarily receiving

psychotropic medications. See In re Leslie H., slip op. at 6-7 (reversing order mandating involuntary

administration of psychotropic medications where the respondent's public defender in the underlying

criminal case did not receive proper notice of proceedings); In re Janet S., 305 Ill. App. 3d 318, 320-

21 (1999) (reversing order mandating involuntary administration of psychotropic medication where

petitioner failed to comply with section 2--107.1's requirement that a good-faith attempt be made to

determine if the respondent has executed a healthcare power of attorney and stating that because

liberty interests are so grave, "we will strictly construe procedural safeguards in favor of the

respondent"). A respondent's right to an independent evaluation by a qualified expert is a procedural

safeguard requiring similar strict construction.

                                         III. CONCLUSION

       Based on the foregoing reasons, we reverse the order authorizing the involuntary

administration of psychotropic medications entered by the circuit court of Kane County.

       Reversed.

       O'MALLEY and KAPALA, JJ., concur.

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