In the Matter of the Involuntary Treatment of: W.H. ( 2019 )

FILED
JULY 18, 2019
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
In the Matter of the Involuntary Treatment )
of ) No. 36119-5-III
)
W.H. )
) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
SIDDOWAY, J. — W.H. appeals an order involuntarily committing him to 14 days
intensive mental health treatment after he exhibited aggressive, manic behavior at a
hospital emergency room. At the probable cause hearing the court commissioner found
that W.H. was on the road to recovery but reasonably found that he was still suffering
from a grave disability within the meaning of RCW 71.05.020(22)(b). For that reason,
and because any error in failing to give a statutorily-required notice of loss of firearm
rights early in the probable cause hearing was not preserved, we affirm.
No. 36119-5-III
In re Involuntary Treatment of W.H.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In May 2018, W.H., a resident of Indiana, was traveling with his father through
Washington State when he lost his medications. Among them were psychiatric
medications and pain medications for his back. Upon arriving in Spokane, he had been
without his medications for several days and was suffering from headaches, nausea, and
chills. He attributed the shivering and nausea to withdrawal from the opiates prescribed
for his back pain.
Having decided that an urgent care clinic or emergency room might be able to
contact his providers in Indiana and provide him with his prescribed opiates and
benzodiazepine, W.H. walked from his hotel to Sacred Heart Hospital. According to
him, the admitting nurse in the hospital emergency room kept him waiting for a couple of
hours and, when he eventually asked if he could have a blanket because of his chills, told
him no. Sacred Heart staff’s version of his emergency room visit was that W.H. yelled,
screamed, spit, and threw a urinal at staff, demanding that he be treated immediately. His
behavior resulted in his being placed in restraints and a spit mask.
A hospital psych triage nurse requested that W.H. be evaluated by a crisis
responder designated by the county, based on concerns that he was gravely disabled and a
danger to others. The psych triage nurse passed along information that W.H. had been
diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but W.H. disputed the diagnosis.
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After evaluating W.H., the crisis responder prepared a petition for his initial
detention, asserting that W.H. presented an imminent likelihood of serious harm to others
and was in imminent danger because of being gravely disabled.
Two days later, a physician and a mental health professional on Sacred Heart staff
filed a petition seeking to commit W.H. to 14 day intensive involuntary treatment. The
petition stated that W.H.’s current diagnosis at Sacred Heart was bipolar disorder. The
petition described W.H., following detention, as
present[ing] with irritability, labile affect, grandiosity, agitation, threats to
punch security, tangential thought process, loose associations, pressured
and rambling speech, poor insight and poor judgment. [W.H.] is hostile
and threatening with nursing staff, refuses assessments, continuously yells
out over staff during assessments, and refuses as needed medications.
Sealed Clerk’s Papers (SCP) at 15. The petition expressed the opinion of the
examining physician and mental health professional that W.H. continued to
present a likelihood of serious harm to others and was gravely disabled. It stated
that W.H. had declined voluntary treatment.
At the probable cause hearing on the petition, the hospital’s witness was Dr.
Rachel Wix, a court evaluator and staff psychologist for Frontier Behavioral Health. Dr.
Wix testified that in preparing for her testimony, she met with W.H., reviewed W.H.’s
chart at Sacred Heart, spoke with the treating psychiatrists, and reviewed medical records
of some of W.H.’s care in Indiana.
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Dr. Wix testified that W.H. suffers from bipolar disorder, for which he was
currently prescribed Risperidone, Depakote, Latuda, Valium, Lamictal, and Gabapentin.
She testified that he had previously been hospitalized in Indiana in 2014 under
circumstances similar to his detention at Sacred Heart: he had reported to the hospital
after he stopped taking his medications.
Dr. Wix testified that when W.H. came to Sacred Heart, he was experiencing a
manic episode. She said he had remained agitated, labile, and unpredictable during the
period of his detention. She testified that he had not been medication compliant when he
first arrived at the hospital, so forced medication was ordered if he refused. He then
acceded to taking medication and by the time of the hearing was medication compliant.
But she characterized him as regularly “argumentative around taking his medication,”
saying that he “often tries to negotiate and bargain when given medications.” Sealed
Report of Proceedings (SRP) at 17.
Dr. Wix said that W.H. had made minimal improvement since being admitted. He
had gone from sleeping only 45 minutes a night when first detained to sleeping 3 and a
half hours the night before the hearing. Dr. Wix said she nonetheless had concerns about
W.H. if he was released into the community, stating he had no family or resources to help
him in Spokane, and because “he doesn’t believe that he has bipolar disorder or needs
medications to treat that disorder, I have no faith that he would follow through with
mental health follow up in the community.” SRP at 19. She observed that the fact that
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he disputed the diagnosis of a psychiatrist who had treated him for 14 years demonstrated
his poor insight into his mental health needs. She testified she was also concerned that
because W.H. was so easily agitated and had threatened hospital staff, he was a serious
risk of harm to others. At the time of the hearing, W.H. had been released from restraints
but was still being held in seclusion.
Asked about the treatment plan for W.H., Dr. Wix testified that it was to get his
symptoms stabilized and discharge him appropriately.
Following Dr. Wix’s testimony, W.H. testified on his own behalf. Because of
W.H.’s prior behavior, three Sacred Heart security employees were present at the hearing
and the court commissioner strongly cautioned W.H. at the outset that if he lost control or
was disruptive he would be removed, and the hearing would continue without him. W.H.
stated that he understood, and the transcript reveals that he was in control, responsive and
respectful throughout the hearing.
W.H. recounted his reasons for going to Sacred Heart and said of the admitting
nurse that he “gave her time” but “[s]till [got] nothing from her,” characterizing the nurse
as “chitchatting with the security guards and one of her technicians” when she refused his
request for a blanket. SRP at 31. He conceded that his psychiatrist from Indiana believes
he has bipolar disorder, but testified, “[W]e’ve been discussing that. There’s nothing in
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the DSM 5[1] that indicates that I do have bipolar.” Id. In W.H.’s view, he has
experienced depression from growing up in a dysfunctional family and has “a very, very
low tolerance for being disrespected.” Id. Despite admitting that he “get[s] easily
offended,” he said he had an “absolutely clean record” and had not assaulted anyone
since high school. SRP at 32.
W.H. testified that if released, his father would pick him up, “no problem
whatsoever.” SRP at 33. He testified that following release, “I’ll call my doctor, have
him get me my regular medications, and I’ll stay on those until we have an opportunity to
discuss whether they’re needed, and I’ll work closely with him.” SRP at 34. Asked by
the court commissioner how he supports himself, W.H. said that he receives a total of
about $4,400 a month in Social Security and rental property income.
The commissioner orally ruled at the conclusion of the hearing, stating that no risk
of harm to others had been proved, nor had the petitioners “spent much energy” trying to
prove that W.H. was gravely disabled within the meaning of RCW 71.05.020(22)(a).
SRP at 46. As to the definition of “gravely disabled” provided by RCW
71.05.020(22)(b), however, the commissioner stated,
[W]hat’s troubling is that [W.H.] seems to resist the idea of being
diagnosed with bipolar disorder. And, frankly, this is somewhat
remarkable in light of the fact that, after a many-year relationship with a
1
DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS (5th ed. 2013).
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In re Involuntary Treatment of W.H.
board certified psychiatrist who disagrees with him, [W.H.] persists. And
this may be an obstacle to his effective treatment.
We see an incident very similar to his current situation back in 2014
where he presented at a hospital in Indiana, similar symptoms, you know,
very agitated, delusional, having a manic episode.
SRP at 46. Although acknowledging that W.H. seemed to be responding to treatment, the
commissioner stated that on arriving at the hospital, W.H. had refused to take psychiatric
medications, indicating a lack of insight into his mental health needs. He also observed
that W.H. had been a difficult patient to manage, “all of which is somewhat different
from how he presents today.” SRP at 47. The commissioner concluded:
The Court would find that [W.H.]’s apparently on the road to
recovery. He’s getting stabilized, may not be quite there today. I think
there would be a risk, if the petition were dismissed, that he would not be
able to obtain necessary treatment in a timely fashion, particularly given
that his doctor is in Indiana. He’s kind of in a transient status here in
Spokane. It’s a little unclear, you know, what—what would happen, and
the Court would find that grave disability exists under part [(b)] of the
statute, to detain him for further stabilization so that a plan can be worked
out for his kind of smooth and safe transition back into the community.
Id. The commissioner added that if W.H.’s medications were working and he was
sufficiently stable, he could be released within a matter of days.
At the conclusion of his ruling, the commissioner stated that W.H. “should also
understand that, with the entry of the order today, that his right to possess firearms will be
suspended.” SRP at 48. Written findings and conclusions were presented and entered
after the commissioner closed the record of the hearing.
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Nine days later, the civil commitment order was dismissed on a joint motion of the
parties. W.H. appeals.
ANALYSIS
W.H. makes two assignments of error: he contends first, that the commissioner
failed to provide a statutorily-required notice of the risk of a loss of his firearm rights,
and second, that insufficient evidence supports the finding that he was gravely disabled
within the meaning of RCW 71.05.020(22)(b). We address the issues in the order stated.2
I. ERROR, IF ANY, IN FAILING TO PROVIDE THE NOTICE REQUIRED BY RCW
71.05.240(2) WAS NOT PRESERVED
A person who is involuntarily committed for mental health treatment for 14 days
under RCW 71.05.240 may not possess a firearm unless his or her right to do so is
restored. RCW 9.41.040(2)(a)(iv), .047. Because an individual’s agreement to voluntary
treatment will avoid the loss of firearm rights, RCW 71.05.240(2) provides that if a
petition for a 14 day civil commitment is for mental health treatment,
the court at the time of the probable cause hearing and before an order of
commitment is entered shall inform the person both orally and in writing
that the failure to make a good faith effort to seek voluntary treatment as
2
The State’s response presents a threshold argument that the appeal is moot in
light of the dismissal of the commitment order and W.H.’s release. “An individual’s
release from detention does not render an appeal moot where collateral consequences
flow from the determination authorizing such detention,” however. In re Det. of M.K.,
168 Wash. App. 621, 626, 279 P.3d 897 (2012). Under RCW 71.05.012, .212, and .245,
“each order of commitment entered up to three years before the current commitment
hearing becomes a part of the evidence against a person seeking denial of a petition for
commitment.” M.K., 168 Wash. App. at 626.
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In re Involuntary Treatment of W.H.
provided in RCW 71.05.230[3] will result in the loss of his or her firearm
rights if the person is subsequently detained for involuntary treatment under
this section.
W.H. argues that it was only at the conclusion of his probable cause hearing—
after the commissioner had orally granted the petition—that the commissioner informed
him of his loss of firearm rights. He argues that the failure of the commissioner to
provide earlier notice requires that the commitment order be reversed. In the proceeding
below, no objection was made to the commissioner’s failure to provide the notice at an
earlier time.
RAP 2.5(a) states the general rule that appellate courts will not entertain issues not
raised in the trial court. State v. Guzman Nunez, 160 Wash. App. 150, 157, 248 P.3d 103
(2011) (citing State v. Scott, 110 Wash. 2d 682, 685, 757 P.2d 492 (1988)), aff’d, 174
Wash. 2d 707, 285 P.3d 21 (2012). The reason for the rule is to afford the trial court an
opportunity to correct errors as they are raised, thereby preserving the use of judicial
resources. Scott, 110 Wash. 2d at 685.
An exception applies where the claimed error is “manifest error affecting a
constitutional right.” RAP 2.5(a)(3). To establish manifest constitutional error, a
criminal defendant must identify a constitutional error and additionally show that the
3
RCW 71.05.230(2) provides that before a petition for such a commitment may be
filed, the person must be advised of the need for voluntary treatment and given an
opportunity to volunteer.
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In re Involuntary Treatment of W.H.
error negatively affected his rights at trial. State v. Kirkman, 159 Wash. 2d 918, 926-27,
155 P.3d 125 (2007). “It is this showing of actual prejudice that makes the error
‘manifest,’ allowing appellate review.” Id. at 927 (citing State v. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d
322, 333, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995)).
The error assigned by W.H. is not constitutional error. Traditionally, individuals
who were mentally ill were considered dangerous to the public and to themselves, and for
that reason were held to be outside the scope of protection by the Second Amendment to
the United States Constitution. E.g., Beers v. Att’y Gen. U.S., 927 F.3d 150, 2019 WL
2529248, at *5 (3d Cir. June 2019) (upholding federal law prohibiting the possession of
firearms by anyone previously adjudicated as mentally ill). The right to bear arms
conferred by article 1, section 24 of the Washington Constitution is likewise subject to
reasonable limitation by the legislature, including when an individual has been
involuntarily committed for mental health treatment. Morris v. Blaker, 118 Wash. 2d 133,
145, 821 P.2d 482 (1992). At issue is not the constitutional issue of whether W.H. can be
forbidden to possess a firearm, but the commissioner’s alleged violation of a statutory
duty to provide notice at an earlier time.
It is not clear that the statute was violated. The record suggests that while the
commissioner provided the required oral and written notice after orally ruling, it was
provided before the order of commitment was signed. See SRP at 48; SCP at 66.
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Assuming the statute requires earlier notice, W.H.’s lawyer could have objected before
entry of the order of commitment. The error, if any occurred, was waived.
II. SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE COMMISSIONER’S FINDING THAT W.H.
WAS GRAVELY DISABLED WITHIN THE MEANING OF RCW 71.05.020(22)(b)
Under chapter 71.05 RCW, persons may be involuntarily committed for treatment
of mental disorders if, as a result of such disorders, they either (1) pose a substantial risk
of harm to themselves, others, or the property of others, or (2) are gravely disabled. In re
Det. of LaBelle, 107 Wash. 2d 196, 201-02, 728 P.2d 138 (1986) (citing former RCW
71.05.020(1), .020(3), .150, .240, .280, .320 (1986)). RCW 71.05.020(22) provides a
twofold definition of “gravely disabled” as meaning
a condition in which a person, as a result of a mental disorder: (a) Is in
danger of serious physical harm resulting from a failure to provide for his
[or her] essential human needs of health or safety, or (b) manifests severe
deterioration in routine functioning evidenced by repeated and escalating
loss of cognitive or volitional control over his or her actions and is not
receiving such care as is essential for his or her health or safety.
LaBelle, 107 Wash. 2d at 202 (footnote omitted) (quoting former RCW 71.05.020(17)
(LAWS OF 2016, ch. 255, § 1)). Either alternative may serve as the basis for involuntary
commitment. Id.
When the State proceeds under RCW 71.05.020(22)(b), the basis for W.H.’s
commitment,
it is particularly important that the evidence provide a factual basis for
concluding that an individual “manifests severe [mental] deterioration in
routine functioning”. Such evidence must include recent proof of
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significant loss of cognitive or volitional control. In addition, the evidence
must reveal a factual basis for concluding that the individual is not
receiving or would not receive, if released, such care as is essential for his
or her health or safety. It is not enough to show that care and treatment of
an individual’s mental illness would be preferred or beneficial or even in
his best interests.
LaBelle, 107 Wash. 2d at 208 (alteration in original).
Because a 14 day commitment is at issue, the burden of proof is by a
preponderance of the evidence. RCW 71.05.240(3)(a). “Preponderance of the evidence
means that considering all the evidence, the proposition asserted must be more probably
true than not true.” State v. Otis, 151 Wash. App. 572, 578, 213 P.3d 613 (2009).
“[W]here the trial court has weighed the evidence, appellate review is limited to
determining whether substantial evidence supports the findings and, if so, whether the
findings in turn support the trial court’s conclusions of law and judgment.” LaBelle, 107
Wash. 2d at 209. We defer to the trial court’s determination of the weight of the evidence
and credibility of witnesses. In re Estate of Barnes, 185 Wash. 2d 1, 16, 367 P.3d 580
(2016).
The State relied in this case on the testimony of Dr. Wix, a licensed psychologist,
who expressed her opinion that W.H. was gravely disabled and explained the reasons for
her opinion. Her testimony was based on almost an hour spent with W.H. in the prior
week, a review of the medical charting prepared during the period of his detention, and
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review of medical records of some of his care in Indiana, including his 2014
hospitalization. She had also spoken with his treating psychiatric providers twice.
There was substantial evidence that W.H. suffers from bipolar disorder and
undisputed evidence that he had quit taking his medication for the disorder for several
days before presenting at Sacred Heart. There was substantial evidence that he had
exhibited agitated, aggressive, manic behavior during the week preceding the hearing, to
the point of being in restraints for a time and in seclusion thereafter. The evidence
established that he was only begrudgingly medication compliant. Among the most
concerning evidence was that he did not accept the diagnosis that he suffered from
bipolar disorder and did not believe he needed the medication prescribed to treat it.
The evidence that he had been previously hospitalized in Indiana in 2014 after he
stopped taking his bipolar medications foreclosed the possibility that this was an isolated
crisis attributable to his losing his medication.
Dr. Wix testified that W.H. had made only minimal improvement during his
detention, continued to be easily agitated, and his emotions continued to swing wildly.
She said that in a single conversation with her, W.H. ranged from being calm and
cooperative, to tearful and emotional, to being so angry that his face and torso were red,
fists clenched, and he had to speak through clenched teeth. She expressed strong concern
that if released into the community, W.H. would not follow through with care essential to
his health and safety.
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Under a preponderance of evidence standard, this evidence supported the
commissioner's finding that W.H. was gravely disabled within the meaning of RCW
71.05 .020(22)(b ).
Affirmed.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
2.06.040.
1J?Uow.~ -~·
oway,J.
I CONCUR:
I CONCUR IN RESULT ONLY:
Lawrence-Berrey, C.J.
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