title: First year of Maryland's new CRP statute in one state hospital.
abstract: The first year of Maryland's new Clinical Review Panel (CRP) statute in one state psychiatric hospital is reviewed. CRPs provide a nonjudicial means to administer medication to an involuntarily committed psychiatric patient refusing medicines in a nonemergency situation. While the statute adds appropriate formal procedural protections and while the CRP process "works," the statute also adds the possibility of unnecessary legal proceedings. Clinical decisions about medications should be made by psychiatrists and not by lawyers or judges.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Walter P. Carter Center, Baltimore 21201.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Storch
mesh_terms: D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D033161:Government Regulation; D006783:Hospitals, State / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D033222:Judicial Role; D008396:Maryland; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016312:Treatment Refusal
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs