Previously, only inpatient programs were available to submit a person to involuntary treatment.
As state laws stand now, involuntary treatment is mostly limited to patients who are considered an immediate threat to themselves and others.
He died there after seven years of involuntary psychiatric treatment.
First, the involuntary treatment must be the least intrusive treatment for restoration of competence.
A new law regarding involuntary treatment of mental patients was put into action in 1969.
As state laws stand now, involuntary treatment is largely limited to patients who are considered a threat to themselves or others.
Since the late 1970's, 37 states have enacted widely varying laws on involuntary treatment.
The Church of Scientology is also aggressively opposed to involuntary treatment.
However, other studies cast doubt on the efficacy of involuntary treatment.
Current mental health laws permit involuntary treatment only for dangerous patients.