Client Rights: Community Patients
Patient definition
If you receive services for mental health, substance use, or a developmental disability, you may be considered a patient as defined in Wis. Stat. ch. 51. You then have patient rights as identified in Wis. Stat. § 51.61 and Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 94.
If you receive treatment services in an emergency room, jail or correctional setting, the definition of "patient" does not apply.
Wisconsin Stat. § DHS 51.61(1) defines "patient" as "any individual who is receiving services for mental illness, developmental disabilities, alcoholism or drug dependency, including any individual who is admitted to a treatment facility in accordance with this chapter or ch. 48 or 55 or who is detained, committed or placed under this chapter or ch. 48, 55, 971, 975 or 980, or who is transferred to a treatment facility under s. 51.35 (3) or 51.37 or who is receiving care or treatment for those conditions through the department or a county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437 or in a private treatment facility. “Patient” does not include persons committed under ch. 975 who are transferred to or residing in any state prison listed under s. 302.01. In private hospitals and in public general hospitals, “patient” includes any individual who is admitted for the primary purpose of treatment of mental illness, developmental disability, alcoholism or drug abuse but does not include an individual who receives treatment in a hospital emergency room nor an individual who receives treatment on an outpatient basis at those hospitals, unless the individual is otherwise covered under this subsection."
Rights
Learn more about your rights while receiving services. These include rights related to treatment, records access, communication, and privacy. You can also learn more about your rights at a community-based clinic or other care provider.
For patients under the age of 18, view the page about rights of minors receiving services.
The Client Rights Office maintains various handouts and posters about the rights of patients receiving services.
View the Community Grievance Decision Digest for a list of past state decisions on patient rights complaints.
Rights violations and grievances
If you believe that a patient rights violation occurred, the grievance resolution process described in Wis. Admin. Code ch. 94, subch. III, may apply. You (or someone on your behalf) may file a patient rights grievance. Subchapter III does not apply to treatment services received from a solo practitioner.
See more information on how to file a grievance.
Learn more about the grievance process with the flow chart for the community grievance resolution process (PDF).
Questions
See the Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to the most common questions and contact information.