The purpose of this part is to:

1. (1) promote more timely, informed, compassionate, and effective mental health care;
2. (2) recognize the right of any person who has capacity to give or withhold informed consent for mental health services;
3. (3) prevent unnecessary delays in receiving care for a mental disorder in times of impending or actual crisis;
4. (4) allow a person with mental illness to provide the legal authority for provision of health care during a period of incapacity, even over the person's own protest;
5. (5) reduce the use of costly legal interventions, including emergency detentions, civil commitment, involuntary medication, and guardianship;
6. (6) minimize the impacts of crisis on people, families, communities, and providers; and
7. (7) support the relationship between the provider and the patient by promoting thoughtful, constructive, and timely communication.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 329, L. 2011.