§ 5332 - W&I Code

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Involuntary Treatment of Antipsychotic Medications

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

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§ 5332. Administration of antipsychotic medication to persons subject to detention; consideration of treatment alternatives; internal procedures at hospitals; acquisition of person’s medication history; emergency procedures
(a) Antipsychotic medication, as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 5008, may be administered to any person subject to detention pursuant to Section 5150, 5250, 5260, or 5270.15, if that person does not refuse that medication following disclosure of the right to refuse medication as well as information required to be given to persons
pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 5152 and subdivision (b) of Section 5213.
(b) If any person subject to detention pursuant to Section 5150, 5250, 5260, or 5270.15, and for whom antipsychotic medication has been prescribed, orally refuses or gives other indication of refusal of treatment with that medication, the medication shall be administered only when treatment staff have considered and determined that treatment alternatives to involuntary medication are unlikely to meet the needs of the patient, and upon a determination of that person’s incapacity to refuse the treatment, in a hearing held for that purpose.
(c) Each hospital in conjunction with the hospital medical staff or any other treatment facility in conjunction with its clinical staff shall develop internal procedures for facilitating the filing of petitions for capacity hearings and other activities required pursuant to this chapter.
(d) When any person is subject to detention pursuant to Section 5150, 5250, 5260, or 5270.15, the agency or facility providing the treatment shall acquire the person’s medication history, if possible.
(e) In the case of an emergency, as defined in subdivision (m) of Section 5008, a person detained pursuant to Section 5150, 5250, 5260, or 5270.15 may be treated with antipsychotic medication over his or her objection prior to a capacity hearing, but only with antipsychotic medication that is required to treat the emergency condition, which shall be provided in the manner least restrictive to the personal liberty of the patient. It is not necessary for harm to take place or become unavoidable prior to intervention.