Medicamentos involuntarios y compromiso civil en Washington

Explicación Simple

Esta ley habla sobre cuándo un tribunal puede decidir que una persona reciba medicamentos sin su consentimiento para ayudarla a estar bien mentalmente. También se preocupa por las personas con discapacidades que pueden ser peligrosas y necesitan ayuda especial.

Es como cuando un coche necesita una reparación urgente para volver a funcionar. A veces, las personas necesitan ayuda para arreglar su mente y es importante que reciban el tratamiento adecuado para que no lastimen a otros.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan, un hombre con una discapacidad del desarrollo, ha cometido un delito menor. El tribunal debe decidir si debe recibir tratamiento involuntario para ayudarlo a entender lo que hizo y evitar que vuelva a suceder. Si se determina que no puede ser juzgado, puede ser enviado a un programa especial en lugar de una prisión.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 10.77.093 - Involuntary medication--Civil commitment When the court must make a determination whether to order involuntary medications for the purpose of competency restoration or for maintenance of competency, the court shall inquire, and shall be told, and to the extent that the prosecutor or defense attorney is aware, whether the defendant is the subject of a pending civil commitment proceeding or has been ordered into involuntary treatment pursuant to a civil commitment proceeding. RCW 10.77.095 - Findings -- Developmental disabilities The legislature finds that among those persons who endanger the safety of others by committing crimes are a small number of persons with developmental disabilities. While their conduct is not typical of the vast majority of persons with developmental disabilities who are responsible citizens, for their own welfare and for the safety of others the state may need to exercise control over those few dangerous individuals who are developmentally disabled, have been charged with crimes that involve a threat to public safety or security, and have been found either incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity. The legislature finds, however, that the use of civil commitment procedures under chapter 71.05 RCW to effect state control over dangerous developmentally disabled persons has resulted in their commitment to institutions for the mentally ill. The legislature finds that existing programs in mental institutions may be inappropriate for persons who are developmentally disabled because the services provided in mental institutions are oriented to persons with mental illness, a condition not necessarily associated with developmental disabilities. Therefore, the legislature believes that, where appropriate, and