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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 5Pt. 1Ch. 2Art. 7§ 5332 Antipsychotic Medication Consent Rules

§ 5332 Antipsychotic Medication Consent Rules

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 5332 Antipsychotic Medication Consent Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •If someone is held for mental health reasons, they can be given antipsychotic medicine only if they don’t say no after being told they can refuse.
  • •If the person says no to the medicine, doctors can only give it to them if they decide the person can’t make that choice and other treatments won’t work.
  • •In an emergency, doctors can give the medicine even if the person says no, but only to treat the emergency and in the least restrictive way.
  • •Hospitals must have rules for handling these situations and should try to get the person’s medicine history.

Example

A person is taken to a hospital because they are acting in a way that suggests they might hurt themselves. The doctors think they need antipsychotic medicine.

The doctors must tell the person they can refuse the medicine. If the person says no, the doctors can only give it if they decide the person can’t make that choice and other treatments won’t help. If the person is in a dangerous emergency, doctors can give the medicine right away to help them, even if they say no.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 5332 Antipsychotic Medication Consent Rules

(a) Antipsychotic medication, as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 5008, may be administered to any person subject to detention pursuant to Section 5150, 5250, 5260, 5270.15, or 5270.70, if that person does not refuse that medication following disclosure of the right to refuse medication as well as information required to be given to persons pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 5152 and subdivision (b) of Section 5213. (b) If any person subject to detention pursuant to Section 5150, 5250, 5260, 5270.15, or 5270.70, and for whom antipsychotic medication has been prescribed, orally refuses or gives other indication of refusal of treatment with that medication, the medication shall be administered only when treatment staff have considered and determined that treatment alternatives to involuntary medication are unlikely to meet the needs of the patient, and upon a determination of that person’s incapacity to refuse the treatment, in a hearing held for that purpose. (c) Each hospital in conjunction with the hospital medical staff or any other treatment facility in conjunction with its clinical staff shall develop internal procedures for facilitating the filing of petitions for capacity hearings and other activities required pursuant to this chapter. (d) When a person is subject to detention pursuant to Section 5150, 5250, 5260, 5270.15, or 5270.70, the agency or facility providing the treatment shall acquire the person’s medication history, if possible. (e) In the case of an emergency, as defined in subdivision (m) of Section 5008, a person detained pursuant to Section 5150, 5250, 5260, 5270.15, or 5270.70 may be treated with antipsychotic medication over the person’s objection prior to a capacity hearing, but only with antipsychotic medication that is required to treat the emergency condition, which shall be provided in the manner least restrictive to the personal liberty of the patient. It is not necessary for harm to take place or become unavoidable prior to intervention. (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 643, Sec. 2. (SB 1184) Effective January 1, 2025.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

medicationtreatmentdetentionmedicalhospitalterminationpatienthealth

Related Statutes

  • § 5326.7 Involuntary Patient Convulsive Treatment
  • § 5333 Capacity Hearing Representation Rights
  • § 6552 Minor Mental Health Consent
  • § 7362 Patient Discharge Conditions
  • § 305 Emergency Minor Custody Authority

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 5332.
View Official Source