Vermont's involuntary treatment proposal concerns MH advocates. (cover story)

INVOLUNTARY hospitalization -- Law & legislation; PATIENT-professional relations; NATIONAL Alliance for the Mentally Ill (Organization); PATIENT advocacy; PSYCHOTHERAPY patients

The article reports on the concern among mental health (MH) advocates arising from the involuntary treatment proposal in Vermont. The Department of Mental Health has proposed a rule for emergency involuntary procedures under which acute psychiatric patients can be subjected to seclusion, restraint and medications. The group Disability Rights Vermont stresses that only physicians and not licensed independent practitioners or specially trained registered nurses must be consulted in an emergency.