The purpose of this subchapter is: (1) to provide to persons receiving mental health services: (A) a listing of the specific rights guaranteed to them; (B) the assurance that these rights must and will be made known to them, and, when applicable, to the persons having legal responsibility for them (i.e., parent of a minor, managing conservator, legal guardian of the person, limited legal guardian of the person); and (C) assistance in exercising their rights in a manner which does not conflict with the rights of other persons; (2) to require the development of rights handbooks and their distribution to persons receiving mental health services and, when applicable, to the persons with legal responsibility for them and other interested parties; (3) to require the appointment of a rights protection officer at each department facility and community MHMR center which provides mental health services; and (4) to ensure that department facility, community center, and psychiatric hospital employees are aware of the rights of persons receiving mental health services. |