Introduction to the Community Grievance Decision Digest

Please visit the webpage: Introduction to the Community Grievance Decision Digest, as it has additional information concerning the Digest and its content is arranged in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) format.

The list of topics below will direct you to web pages with the applicable laws on that topic, plus all of the Level III and Level IV community grievance decisions relevant to that topic.  The decisions listed are summaries of the actual cases that were decided in the DHS 94 community grievance procedure.

DISCHARGES &  TRANSFERS                                 

• Discharge from Outpatient Treatment                    
• Discharge of voluntary patients                               
• Least restrictive conditions                                      
• Transfers                                                                    

DIGNITY AND RESPECT ISSUES

• Abuse – freedom from                                              
• Arbitrary decisions – freedom from      
• Choices – respecting clients’ 
• Civil rights                        
• Conflicts between peers                                           
• Dignity and respect – right to                                   
• Discrimination – freedom from                                
• Sexual harassment – freedom from                         
• Staff / client conflicts                                                 

FINANCIAL ISSUES

• Costs of care – must be informed of            
• Funds – controlling own money                                 

GRIEVANCE PROCESS ISSUES

• Access to grievance process                                    
• Burden of proof                                                         
• Credibility of witnesses                                            
• Evidence                                                                    
• Grievability                                                               
• Mootness                                                                  
• Procedural issues                                                      
• Resolutions & remedies                                           
• Retaliation for complaining prohibited              

INPATIENT ISSUES

• Aesthetics, hygiene & sanitation                             
• Businesses – run by patients                        
• Clothing & laundry                                                   
• Dayroom activities – TV, radio, etc.            
• Exercise & recreation                                              
• Food, meals & diets                                                  
• Humane physical environment                                 
• Liberty & security level issues                                
• Mail – personal mail                                                 
• Management of the facility                                      
• Physical health care                                                  
• Possessions – limits on                                             
• Possessions – lost or damaged                                 
• Restrictive measures – freedom from                     
• Religious worship                                                      
• Risk-reduction measures                                         
• Rules & sanctions                                                     
• Safety – right to safe environment                           
• Searches of persons & possessions                         
• Security measures                                                    
• Sleep disturbances                                                    
• Social contact – right to                                            
• Storage space                                                            
• Telephone calls                                                         
• Toileting and grooming                                             
• Visitors – right to receive                                         
• Wages for work                                                         

LEGAL ISSUES

• Access to courts & legal system                              
• Due process of law                                                    
• Equal protection of law                                             
• Legal mail                                                                  

 PRIVACY ISSUES

• Drug testing                                                              
• Filming & taping – consent required                        
• Privacy – general                                                      
• Toileting & bathing privacy                                       

RECORDS

• Access to records by patients                                  
• Confidentiality                                                           
• Corrections of records                                              
• Documentation requirements                                   

 RIGHTS ISSUES

• Assistance in exercise of rights                               
• Consents – must be informed                                   
• CRLD – Rights limitations or denials 
• Guardianships                    
• Informed of rights                                               
• Patient defined – who rights apply to                       
• Waiver of rights prohibited                          

TREATMENT ISSUES  

• Drastic treatment – right to refuse                          
• Experimental research – right to refuse                  
• Medication – free from unnecessary or excessive 
• Medication – refusing on religious grounds
• Methadone Clinics                                                    
• Treatment – consent required                                  
• Treatment – evaluation and monitoring of              
• Treatment – participation in own                             
• Treatment – prompt & adequate 
• Treatment - second opinion options

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Last Updated: May 02, 2013