A previously published “Case of the Month” featured a case involving Mr. Crane, a profoundly deaf individual who communicates using American Sign Language (ASL) and who filed a lawsuit against a hospital for failure to provide a sign language interpreter to effectively communicate during an involuntary commitment evaluation.
Consistent with the Biden Administration's timeline to end the COVID-19 national and public health emergencies on May 11, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) informed states to expect the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and certain associated flexibilities to end on the same date.
As challenges associated with mental and behavioral health illnesses increase, physicians should review available options when they suspect a patient may be a danger to themselves or to others so they can provide timely and appropriate care, not violate citizen/patient rights, and reduce professional and legal liability exposure for themselves.