Rights and Legal Issues
- Involuntary Admissions and Commitments to a Psychiatric Hospitals (PDF)
- Filling Out the New State of Maine “Blue Paper” (PDF)
- Maine Involuntary Commitment Timeline (PDF)
Involuntary Hospitalization Forms and Procedures
- Notification of new Blue paper forms-signed (PDF)
- Notification of new Blue paper forms (PDF)
- Blue Paper MH (PDF)
- Request and Endorsement for Transfer, MH 101 (for use during blue paper period)(July 2006) (PDF)
- Model Form--Certification of Need for Psychiatric Hospitalization (24-hour certificate) (September 2015) (PDF)
- Application to District Court for Involuntary Commitment to a Mental Hospital "White Paper" (PDF)
- Application to District Court for Involuntary Commitment to a Mental Hospital and Request for Involuntary Treatment (PDF)
- Motion and Order for Transfer, MH 109 (for use after application for hearing is filed but before hearing is held) (March 2011) (PDF)
- Motion and Order for Dismissal, MH 106 (for use after application for hearing is filed but before hearing is held) (March 2011) (PDF)
Additional information about involuntary admissions:
- Title 34-B 3801 – Definitions
- Title 34-B 3862 – Protective Custody
- Title 34-B 3862-A – Protection from Substantial Threats (Weapons Restriction)
- Title 34-B 3863 – Emergency Procedure (Blue Papers)
- Title 34-B 3864 – Judicial Procedure and Commitment (White Paper)
- Title 34-B 3873 – Progressive Treatment Program
Frequently Asked Questions about Involuntary Hospitalization (PDF)
Medicating Patients Involuntarily at Psychiatric Hospitals (PDF)
- All hospital patients with unimpaired capacity have the right to consent to or refuse treatment unless there is an emergency.
- *This is an overview of the applicable laws. For more complete information, refer directly to statutes:
- Rights of Recipients of Adult Mental Health Services regulation Rights of Recipients concerning administrative hearings for involuntary treatment or treatment during psychiatric emergencies.
For more complete information related to the content and effect of advance directives, go to the Maine Disability Rights Center's Advanced Health Care Directives Manual (PDF)
Every patient has the right to govern their own treatment unless that person lacks capacity or there is an emergency. The circumstances of incapacity and emergency are very precisely defined, and must be strictly observed to protect this right.