A bill that allows more time to administer medication without a hearing to people who are mentally ill is one step closer to becoming law. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed House Bill 1198. Representative Mike Stevens says the bill allows physicians to forcibly administer medication for ten additional days before a hearing is required. He says this is good for patients, and the court system.
“You virtually have to when the person comes in immediately set a hearing whether you need a hearing or not,” Stevens says. “And what we’ve found in this situation here, it would almost be like this, if you would go to your physicians and say here’s my symptoms. And the physician says well, I’m going to give you this medication but we’re going to schedule surgery anyway ten days down the road. And then you find out the medication works. You’ve tied up the surgery room unnecessarily, and that’s really what’s been happening at the state hospital.”
Stevens says House Bill 1198 allows time to see if the medication is working before a hearing is scheduled. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for further debate.