14-5312.01. Inpatient treatment; rights and duties of ward and guardian

A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, a guardian of an incapacitated person may consent to psychiatric and psychological care and treatment, including the administration of psychotropic medications, if the care and treatment take place outside an inpatient psychiatric facility licensed by the department of health services.

B. On clear and convincing evidence that the ward is an incapacitated person and is likely to be in need of inpatient mental health care and treatment within the period of the authority granted pursuant to this section, the court may authorize a guardian appointed pursuant to this title to give consent for the ward to receive inpatient mental health care and treatment, including placement in an inpatient psychiatric facility licensed by the department of health services and medical, psychiatric and psychological treatment associated with that placement. The evidence shall be supported by the opinion of a mental health expert who is either a physician licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17 and who is a specialist in psychiatry or a psychologist who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 19.1.

C. In making its decision to grant authority to a guardian pursuant to subsection B of this section, the court shall consider the cause of the ward's disability and the ward's foreseeable clinical needs. The court shall limit the guardian's authority to what is reasonably necessary to obtain the care required for the ward in the least restrictive treatment alternative. The court may limit the duration of the guardian's authority to consent to inpatient mental health care and treatment and include other orders the court determines necessary to protect the ward's best interests.

D. Within forty-eight hours after placement of the ward pursuant to this section, the guardian shall give notice of this action to the ward's attorney.  When the attorney receives this notice the attorney shall assess the appropriateness of the placement pursuant to section 36-537, subsection B and section 36-546, subsection H. If requested by the attorney, the court shall hold a hearing on the appropriateness of the placement within three days after receiving that request.

E. The inpatient psychiatric facility shall assess the appropriateness of the ward's placement every thirty days and shall provide a copy of the assessment report to the ward's attorney on request. The ward's attorney may attend the ward's evaluation, staffing, treatment team and case management meetings.

F. When the ward is admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility pursuant to this section, the guardian shall provide the facility with the name, address and telephone number of the ward's attorney. The facility shall include this information in the ward's treatment record.

G. Within twenty-four hours after the facility receives any writing in which the ward requests release from the facility, any change in placement or a change in the type or duration of treatment, the facility shall forward this information to the ward's attorney.

H. All health care providers, treatment facilities and regional behavioral health authorities shall allow the ward's attorney access to all of the ward's medical, psychiatric, psychological and other treatment records.

I. The ward's guardian shall place the ward in a least restrictive treatment alternative within five days after the guardian is notified by the medical director of the inpatient facility that the ward no longer needs inpatient care. The ward, a representative of the inpatient treatment facility, the ward's attorney, the ward's physician or any other interested person may petition the court to order the facility to discharge the ward to a least restrictive treatment alternative if the guardian does not act promptly to do so.

J. If the ward is in an inpatient psychiatric facility at the time of the initial hearing on the petition for appointment of a guardian, the court investigator and the ward's attorney shall advise the court of the appropriateness of the placement.

K. An attorney appointed pursuant to section 14-5303, subsection C remains the attorney of record until the attorney is discharged by the court. The court shall ensure that a ward whose guardian has been granted inpatient mental health treatment authority is represented by an attorney at all times the guardian has that authority. Unless the court finds that the ward has insufficient assets to meet the ward's reasonable and necessary care and living expenses, the ward shall pay the attorney's reasonable fees.

L. If deemed necessary to adequately assess a request for inpatient mental health treatment authority or to review the ward's placement in an inpatient psychiatric facility, the court may order an independent evaluation by either a physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17 and who is a specialist in psychiatry or a psychologist who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 19.1. If the ward has insufficient funds to pay the total cost of this evaluation, the court may deem all or any part of the evaluator's fee to be a county expense after determining the reasonableness of that fee.

M. Instead of ordering an independent evaluation pursuant to subsection L of this section, the court may accept a report conducted on behalf of the inpatient psychiatric facility if the court finds that the report meets the requirements of an independent evaluation.

N. The court may decide that the ward's right to retain or obtain a driver license and any other civil right that may be suspended by operation of law is not affected by the appointment of a guardian.

O. If the court grants the guardian the authority to consent to inpatient mental health care and treatment pursuant to this section, the medical director of an inpatient psychiatric facility licensed by the department of health services may admit the ward at the guardian's request.

P. A guardian who is authorized by the court to consent to inpatient mental health care and treatment pursuant to this section shall file with the annual report of the guardian required pursuant to section 14-5315 an evaluation report by a physician or a psychologist who meets the requirements of subsection B of this section. The evaluation report shall indicate if the ward will likely need inpatient mental health care and treatment within the period of the authority granted pursuant to this section. If the guardian does not file the evaluation report or if the report indicates that the ward will not likely need inpatient mental health care and treatment, the guardian's authority to consent to this treatment ceases on the expiration of the period specified in the prior court order.  If the report supports the continuation of the guardian's authority to consent to inpatient treatment, the court may order that the guardian's authority to consent to this treatment continues. If the report supports the continuation of the guardian's authority to consent to this treatment, the ward's attorney shall review the report with the ward. The ward may contest the continuation of the guardian's authority by filing a request for a court hearing within ten business days after the report is filed. The court shall hold this hearing within thirty calendar days after it receives the request.  The guardian's authority continues pending the court's ruling on the issue.  At the hearing the guardian has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the ward is likely to be in need of inpatient mental health care and treatment within the period of the authority granted pursuant to this section.

Q. The court may discharge an attorney who was appointed pursuant to section 14-5303, subsection C subsequent to the appointment of a guardian if it clearly appears from specific facts presented by affidavit or verified petition that continued representation of the ward is no longer necessary or desirable.  The factual basis must include, at a minimum, consideration of the following:

1. The nature and history of the ward's illness.

2. The ward's history of hospitalization.

3. The ward's current and anticipated living arrangements.

4. Whether the ward's inpatient treatment is anticipated to be a one-time hospitalization for the purpose of stabilizing the ward's condition and further hospitalizations are not likely to be necessary.

5. Whether the ward's current and anticipated living arrangements are the least restrictive alternatives possible.