title: APA's model law: protecting the patient's ultimate interests.
abstract: As a mental health advocate and the parent of a chronic mentally ill son, the author argues for adoption of the provisions in APA's model law on civil commitment. He believes that a shift in mental health law from absolute protection of civil liberty to an emphasis on the ultimate good for an individual will dramatically improve the lives of the seriously mentally ill by ending the deterioration that they currently must experience to receive treatment. The author also discusses the merits of a proposal that would expedite treatment for patients who repeatedly require emergency care.
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003688:Deinstitutionalization; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D028701:Patient Rights; D011570:Psychiatry; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States