In the Matter of D.A.S., Alleged to Be Seriously Mentally Impaired, D.A.S. ( 2014 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 13-0168
Filed April 30, 2014
IN THE MATTER OF D.A.S.,
Alleged to be Seriously
Mentally Impaired,
D.A.S.,
Respondent-Appellant.
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Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Poweshiek County, Joel D. Yates,
Judge.
Respondent appeals the decision of the court finding he was seriously
mentally impaired and should be involuntarily committed. AFFIRMED.
Michael S. Fisher of Fisher Law Office, Oskaloosa, for appellant.
D.A.S., Grinnell, pro se.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Gretchen Witte Kraemer,
Assistant Attorney General, and Rebecca L. Petig, County Attorney, for appellee
State.
Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., Tabor, J., and Huitink, S.J.*
*Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206 (2013).
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HUITINK, S.J.
Respondent appeals the decision of the court finding he was seriously
mentally impaired and should be involuntarily committed. There is clear and
convincing evidence in the record to support the court’s decision. We affirm.
I. Background Facts & Proceedings
On January 15, 2013, police officers responded to a report of a man
wearing a ski mask peeking into windows. The officers apprehended D.A.S.,
who refused to cooperate with the officers. D.A.S. was criminally charged with
trespass and public urination. The next day, D.A.S.’s father and step-mother
filed applications seeking involuntary hospitalization for D.A.S. on the ground he
was seriously mentally impaired. They noted D.A.S. had been diagnosed with
paranoid schizophrenia and had been refusing medication or medical help of any
kind. They were concerned he could put himself or others in danger, as
exemplified by his failure to cooperate with officers.
A judicial magistrate ordered that D.A.S. should be detained at a hospital
for a mental health examination. A physician’s report, filed pursuant to Iowa
Code section 229.10 (2013), stated D.A.S. was mentally ill and had been
diagnosed with chronic paranoid schizophrenia. Dr. Rickey Wilson stated D.A.S.
was not capable of making responsible decisions with respect to having
hospitalization or treatment because he had no insight into his need for
treatment. Dr. Wilson also stated D.A.S. was likely to physically injure himself or
others, citing his “threats to others as per petition.” Inpatient treatment was
recommended until D.A.S.’s situation was stabilized.
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A hearing was held on January 22, 2013. The State relied upon the
information presented in the physician’s report. D.A.S. testified he had a bladder
condition “in which I had to go immediately when I had to go,” but he felt he was
getting over that condition. He stated he was already seeking treatment, but did
not give any specifics. The court determined D.A.S. was seriously mentally
impaired and ordered impatient treatment. D.A.S. appealed the decision of the
court, claiming the record does not support a finding he is seriously mentally
impaired.
II. Standard of Review
In involuntary commitment proceedings we review challenges to the
sufficiency of the evidence for the correction of errors at law. In re B.B., 826
N.W.2d 425, 428 (Iowa 2013). The Iowa Supreme Court has stated:
The allegations made in an application for involuntary commitment
must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. Clear and
convincing evidence is less burdensome than evidence establishing
proof beyond a reasonable doubt, but more burdensome than a
preponderance of the evidence. “It means that there must be no
serious or substantial doubt about the correctness of a particular
conclusion drawn from the evidence.”
Id. (citations omitted).
III. Merits
D.A.S. asserts the State did not present sufficient evidence at the
commitment hearing to support a finding he was seriously mentally impaired and
should be placed in inpatient treatment. The term “seriously mentally impaired”
is defined as:
[T]he condition of a person with mental illness and because of that
illness lacks sufficient judgment to make responsible decisions with
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respect to the person’s hospitalization or treatment, and who
because of that illness meets any of the following criteria:
a. Is likely to physically injure the person’s self or others
if allowed to remain at liberty without treatment.
b. Is likely to inflict serious emotional injury on members
of the person’s family or others who lack reasonable opportunity to
avoid contact with a person with mental illness if the person with
mental illness is allowed to remain at liberty without treatment.
c. Is unable to satisfy the person’s needs for
nourishment, clothing, essential medical care, or shelter so that it is
likely that the person will suffer physical injury, physical debilitation,
or death.
Iowa Code § 229.1(17).
The definition of serious mental impairment is considered to have three
elements: (1) a person has a mental illness; (2) the person lacks sufficient
judgment to make responsible decisions with respect to the person’s
hospitalization or treatment; and (3) the person is likely to inflict physical injury on
the person’s self or others, to inflict serious emotional injury on certain persons,
or is unable to satisfy the person’s physical needs. In re J.P., 574 N.W.2d 340,
343 (Iowa 1998). D.A.S. asserts the State did not present clear and convincing
evidence of the second and third elements.
We first address the second element. In his application for involuntary
hospitalization, D.A.S.’s father stated, “He refused meds or to work with doctors.”
D.A.S.’s stepmother stated he “refuses medication and medical help of any kind.”
The examining physician, Dr. Wilson, found D.A.S. had no insight into his need
for treatment. While D.A.S. testified at the commitment hearing that he was
already seeking treatment, there was no evidence about whether he was actually
addressing his mental health concerns. We conclude the State presented clear
and convincing evidence D.A.S. lacked sufficient judgment to make responsible
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decisions with respect to his need for hospitalization or treatment. See Iowa
Code § 229.1(17); J.P., 574 N.W.2d at 343.
For the third element, the State alleged D.A.S. was likely to inflict serious
physical injury on himself or others. The term “likely” means “probable or
reasonably to be expected.” In re Oseing, 296 N.W.2d 797, 801 (Iowa 1980).
“This element requires a predictive judgment, ‘based on prior manifestations but
nevertheless ultimately grounded on future rather than past danger.’” Id. (citation
omitted). Additionally, the State must show the danger the person poses to
himself or others has been evidenced by a recent overt act, attempt, or threat. In
re Mohr, 383 N.W.2d 539, 542 (Iowa 1986).
On January 15, 2013, D.A.S. was the subject of a police report concerning
a man wearing a ski mask who had been peeking or staring into windows. His
actions involved trespass onto the property of others and public urination. He
refused to cooperate with officers when he was arrested. In his application,
D.A.S.’s father expressed concern that D.A.S. had the potential of confronting an
officer who might not know of his mental health diagnosis. He noted D.A.S. had
refused to cooperate with police officers. His stepmother stated, “There is
concern that he may put himself (and perhaps others) in danger. A recent
example of this is his refusal to cooperate with police or other authorities.” Dr.
Wilson stated D.A.S. was likely to physically injure himself or others, citing his
threats to others. We conclude there is clear and convincing evidence in the
record to show D.A.S. was likely to injure himself or others, and this was
exemplified by his recent overt act of refusing to cooperate with officers at the
time he was arrested. See Iowa Code § 229.1(17); Mohr, 383 N.W.2d at 542.
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We affirm the decision of the district court finding D.A.S. was seriously
mentally impaired. Based on the recommendation in the physician’s report, the
court properly ordered D.A.S. placed in inpatient treatment for a psychiatric
evaluation and appropriate treatment.
AFFIRMED.