Section 22-56-10 – No Reduction or Expansion of Rights Beyond Rights Guaranteed Other Persons.
Section 22-56-10 No reduction or expansion of rights beyond rights guaranteed other persons. Provided that nothing in this chapter shall reduce or expand the rights of mental health consumers in Alabama beyond the rights guaranteed to any other person under the statutes or Constitution of the United States and Alabama statutes or Constitution of Alabama […]
Section 22-56-1 – Short Title.
Section 22-56-1 Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Alabama Mental Health Consumers’ Rights Act.” (Acts 1995, No. 95-744, p. 1690, §1.)
Section 22-56-2 – Definitions.
Section 22-56-2 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) CONSUMER. A person who receives or uses mental health services. (2) DEPARTMENT. The Alabama Department of Mental Health. (3) FAMILY MEMBER. A person within the immediate family or a legal guardian of a mental health consumer. (4) MENTAL […]
Section 22-56-3 – Legislative Declarations.
Section 22-56-3 Legislative declarations. The Legislature declares that mental health services shall be individualized, empowering, culturally relevant and diverse, flexible, and include natural supports. Mental health services shall also be provided in a way which is normalizing as well as respectful of the rights, responsibilities, and feelings of each consumer. Mental health services shall also […]
Section 22-56-4 – Rights.
Section 22-56-4 Rights. (a) Consumers of mental health services have the same general rights as other citizens of Alabama. These rights include but are not limited to the following: (1) The right to exercise rights as a citizen of the United States and the State of Alabama. (2) The right to be served through general […]
Section 22-56-5 – Department to Establish Official Standards for Certification.
Section 22-56-5 Department to establish official standards for certification. In order to ensure that consumers of mental health services through state facilities, community mental health centers, and other providers under contract to the department receive individual treatment and that rights delineated in Section 22-56-4 and elsewhere in state and federal law are consistently observed within […]
Section 22-56-6 – Abuse, Exploitation, Neglect – Penalties; Reporting to Agencies.
Section 22-56-6 Abuse, exploitation, neglect – Penalties; reporting to agencies. Any provider who abuses, exploits, or neglects a consumer in his or her care shall be subject to the civil and criminal remedies and penalties prescribed in Alabama law. All instances of abuse, exploitation, or neglect, as defined by Alabama law, shall be reported to […]
Section 22-56-7 – Abuse, Exploitation, Neglect – Providers to Implement Written Policies and Procedures.
Section 22-56-7 Abuse, exploitation, neglect – Providers to implement written policies and procedures. All providers of mental health services in Alabama shall develop and implement written policies and procedures that prohibit abuse, exploitation, or neglect of consumers in programs operated by the providers. At a minimum, these policies and procedures shall accomplish the following: (1) […]
Section 22-56-8 – Effect of Chapter on Established Standards of Medical Care; Applicability of Written Policies and Procedures.
Section 22-56-8 Effect of chapter on established standards of medical care; applicability of written policies and procedures. This chapter shall not be interpreted or construed to alter, expand, or diminish established standards of medical care applicable to physicians licensed to practice medicine. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the requirement to develop […]
Section 22-56-9 – Construction With Other Law.
Section 22-56-9 Construction with other law. This chapter shall not override any provisions of the Adult Protective Services Act, pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 38-9-1) of Title 38, or the Child Abuse Reporting Act, Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 26-14-1) of Title 26, and shall be read in para materia with those provisions. […]