Education: On Demand
HOW TO GET HELP FOR YOUR PATIENT WHO DOESN'T WANT IT: PROCESS AND LAW OF INVOLUNTARY PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION AND TREATMENT IN ARIZONA (On-Demand Informational Webinar)
About this Webinar: Voluntary treatment for any medical condition is always preferable. However, because of the nature of mental illness, involuntary treatment and hospitalization is necessary in certain circumstances, especially if the illness has impacted that person’s ability to identify their own need for treatment.
Court-ordered evaluation or court-ordered treatment (assisted outpatient treatment) is a complicated topic in which the medical and legal communities each play a role. In order for a psychiatrist practicing in Arizona to effectively protect the patient and others at a time when he or she may not be capable of appropriate decision-making, having the knowledge of Arizona law and its processes necessary to interpret the appropriate course of action and apply the same is essential.
Assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) has been shown to reduce hospitalization, arrest and incarceration, homelessness and violent acts associated with mental illness. Due to strict legal criteria, AOT participants typically represent far less than .05% of a state’s population. Yet, on any given day, they are the people most at risk to be in a hospital, ER, on the streets or behind bars. The webinar is posted for informational purposes to the community, and is no longer eligible for continuing medical education credit. If you have any questions regarding the same, please contact the Society.
Court-ordered evaluation or court-ordered treatment (assisted outpatient treatment) is a complicated topic in which the medical and legal communities each play a role. In order for a psychiatrist practicing in Arizona to effectively protect the patient and others at a time when he or she may not be capable of appropriate decision-making, having the knowledge of Arizona law and its processes necessary to interpret the appropriate course of action and apply the same is essential.
Assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) has been shown to reduce hospitalization, arrest and incarceration, homelessness and violent acts associated with mental illness. Due to strict legal criteria, AOT participants typically represent far less than .05% of a state’s population. Yet, on any given day, they are the people most at risk to be in a hospital, ER, on the streets or behind bars. The webinar is posted for informational purposes to the community, and is no longer eligible for continuing medical education credit. If you have any questions regarding the same, please contact the Society.
Carol Kline Olson, MD, DFAPA, Chair of the Departments of Psychiatry at Valleywise Behavioral Health and Creighton School of Medicine, Phoenix
A Phoenix native, Dr. Olson has spent her career within Valleywise, which performs all Title 36 court ordered psychiatric evaluations in Maricopa County. She has been Chair of the Valleywise Department since 2004, and is responsible for the behavioral health services at three inpatient facilities with over 400 beds, a psychiatric consultation service, ECT and TMS services, several outpatient clinics, and adult/child & adolescent residency programs. She is board certified in Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry. Dr. Olson was Chair of the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) for Arizona for 10 years, which oversees individuals found Guilty Except Insane for violent crimes, during their time committed to the Arizona State Hospital and after their conditional release. Dr. Olson is a past president of the medical staff and past Physician of the Year at Valleywise. On the 2017 Phoenix Magazine list of “25 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders, she is a Distinguished Fellow of the APA.
Josh Mozell, JD, Senior Partner, Law Firm of Frazer, Ryan, Goldberg & Arnold, L.L.P; President of the Association of the Chronically Mentally Ill; and Immediate Past Chair, Mental Health America of Arizona
A leader in advocating for Arizonans with mental illness and Super Lawyers Rising Stars honoree, Phoenix attorney Josh Mozell practices in mental health law. In his mental health practice, Josh helps clients gain access to care, and he works with families to help them understand and effectively access Arizona’s uniquely complex mental health system. Josh counsels clients in navigating the notoriously difficult civil commitment process and connects families with his network of care providers. When care is superior in other parts of the country, Josh coordinates the legal, administrative, and practical measures needed to access that care. When necessary, Josh frequently helps families implement a mental health guardianship so they can properly advocate for their mentally ill loved ones. Additionally, a significant portion of Josh’s mental health practice focuses on “psychiatric boarding,” a situation in which clients are involuntarily and unlawfully held in an emergency room.
In his healthcare practice, Josh represents behavioral health hospitals and providers. Here he uses his public behavioral health experience to help providers navigate complex legal issues that arise while delivering behavioral health and integrated care, including but not limited to HIPAA privacy and security, substance use record disclosures, implications of incapacity, guardianship and powers of attorney, compliance, civil commitment proceedings, consultation and representation on Arizona State Hospital Admission, and writ of habeas corpus challenges. In addition, he represents mental health and healthcare professionals in disciplinary proceedings.
Learning Objectives
- Determine the appropriate statutory, legal, and ethical course of action for court ordered treatment or court ordered evaluations under Arizona law. - Identify the process for court ordered treatment or court ordered evaluations under Arizona law and the role of the treating psychiatrist or other behavioral health provider in the same.
Resources Available
§ 36-520 Non-Emergency Timelines
§ 36-524 Emergency Timelines
PowerPoint PDF: How to Get Help For Your Patient Who Doesn't Want It
Crisis Centers Maricopa County 2021
Flow Chart COE & COT Process 2021
These resources are the proprietary work product of the meeting faculty and are provided here as a courtesy to the community and are not to be redistributed or reproduced without permission.
Target AudiencePsychiatric physicians, physicians of other specialties providing psychiatric care, and non-physician behavioral health providers, with specific focus on processes of Maricopa County, Arizona.