The L.A. County Board of Supervisors is set to vote tomorrow on mental health care reform that would allow court-ordered treatment for mental health issues. The vote follows implementation of similar legislation, often known as Laura’s Law, in Orange County and in San Francisco.
Laura’s Law allows for court-ordered mental health treatment (not medication) for individuals who may not be able to make their own informed decisions about care. The law has been praised by some family members of people with mental illnesses -- they say that court mandates could have helped their loved ones receive much needed treatment.
Critics call court-ordered treatment coercive and argue that free, voluntary treatment is the best option. Should Los Angeles County implement this kind of mental health treatment?
Guests
Dave Pilon, Ph.D., President and CEO of Mental Health America of Los Angeles
Dr. Roderick Shaner, MD, Medical Director for the LA County Department of Mental Health