What rights does a patient have to be discharged after a commitment order?
A. It’s important to note that the commitment order is the maximum amount of time the hospital can keep a patient for treatment. Once the patient is no longer considered a danger to himself or others, the hospital has a duty to discharge, even if the duration of the commitment order has not expired. The patient’s right to expedite discharge includes the right to an individualized treatment plan with clear discharge goals. The patient has the right to attend all treatment meetings and participate in formulating the treatment plan so he or she knows the goals and what is expected in order to reach discharge. Q, What rights do patients have for getting off the units? A. All patients have the right to at least one hour of outdoor recreation or exercise each day. Patients at DDPC also have the right to leave the unit to attend the Wilson Treatment Mall each morning, which offers a variety of classes ranging from yoga to anger management. Beyond that, a patient’s access off the units is gove
