COURT-ORDERED TREATMENT

Under certain circumstances, as ordered by a judge of Probate Court or Superior Court, Georgia law authorizes involuntary treatment of persons proved to be suffering from mental illness or drug or alcohol addiction.
In crisis situations, and sometimes in certain other instances, the law allows the judge to order a person to be apprehended by the sheriff or their deputy on the basis of a two-party affidavit and delivered to a hospital for evaluation by a doctor or other appropriate medical personnel. The Sheriff's Office or the judge may also take such action on the basis of a doctor's certificate. In addition, if a police officer observes a crime being committed by a person whom the officer reasonably believes is mentally ill and in need of treatment, the officer has the discretion to take such person to be evaluated instead of arresting him or her.

PATIENTS' RIGHTS

Patients and persons who are proposed patients (people who are the subject of involuntary treatment proceedings) have certain rights in connection with the legal procedures and with the treatment itself. These rights are specified by statute. Many other due process protections are built into involuntary treatment proceedings as well.