MENTAL HEALTH Examination, Treatment, etc., for Mental Illness: Provide for Treatment Team to Concur on Decision to Discharge Mental Patients and for Period of Conditional Release of Mentally Ill Defendants

Authors

Melinda D. Taylor

Document Type

Peach Sheet

Abstract

HB 889 amends Title 37 of the Georgia Code by changing several provisions relating to administration of mental health laws. The most significant changes include providing the Department of Human Resources with access to patient records, changing the duties of the chief medical officer, allowing chief medical officers to appoint designees, changing the provision regarding patient discharge, and allowing psychologists to perform functions traditionally performed by physicians. Other minor changes include providing for confidentiality of records and providing patients with the ability to seek treatment from private psychologists. HB 469 provides the court with authority to authorize a period of conditional release for mental patients who plead insanity or mental incompetency. During this period of conditional release, the court monitors the defendant's progress in society and has the authority to revoke the conditional release period if warranted.

Recommended Citation

Melinda D. Taylor, MENTAL HEALTH Examination, Treatment, etc., for Mental Illness: Provide for Treatment Team to Concur on Decision to Discharge Mental Patients and for Period of Conditional Release of Mentally Ill Defendants, 8 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. (1992).
Available at: https://readingroom.law.gsu.edu/gsulr/vol8/iss1/22