In Re KP

2004 ND 52, 676 N.W.2d 744, 2004 WL 434628
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 10, 2004
Docket20040049
StatusPublished

This text of 2004 ND 52 (In Re KP) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re KP, 2004 ND 52, 676 N.W.2d 744, 2004 WL 434628 (N.D. 2004).

Opinion

676 N.W.2d 744 (2004)
2004 ND 52

In the Interest of K.P.
William Pryatel, M.D., Petitioner and Appellee
v.
K.P., Respondent and Appellant.

No. 20040049.

Supreme Court of North Dakota.

March 10, 2004.

*745 Kenneth L. Dalsted, Special Assistant Attorney General, Jamestown, for petitioner and appellee.

Thomas E. Merrick, Jamestown, for respondent and appellant.

SANDSTROM, Justice.

[¶ 1] K.P. is appealing from a Southeast Judicial District Court order denying change of venue and from an order terminating alternative treatment and ordering K.P. to be hospitalized in the North Dakota State Hospital at Jamestown, North Dakota, until March 20, 2004, or until further court order. K.P. argues the district court abused its discretion in denying her motion for a change of venue. K.P. also argues the district court erred in determining she was not complying with a court order for less restrictive treatment and in determining this alternative treatment was insufficient to prevent harm or injury to herself or others.

I

[¶ 2] K.P. has schizoaffective disorder, which involves a cycling mood condition. She has been in and out of the North *746 Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown since January 13, 2003. K.P.'s hospitalization history prior to this appeal is discussed in Interest of K.P., 2003 ND 114, ¶¶ 2-8, 665 N.W.2d 65. The facts relevant to this appeal are as follows.

[¶ 3] On May 16, 2003, K.P. was ordered hospitalized until March 20, 2004. On November 5, 2003, the district court ordered less restrictive treatment and required K.P. to undergo treatment through the Southeast Human Service Center ("SEHSC") until March 20, 2004. The outpatient treatment required medication monitoring and compliance at the SEHSC through Dr. Elizabeth Faust, K.P.'s psychiatrist, and Amy Axtmann, K.P.'s SEHSC case manager.

[¶ 4] On November 5, 2003, K.P. was released from the State Hospital. On January 9, 2004, because of reported behavior and an incident involving a scalpel, K.P. was taken into custody and detained at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota. An application for emergency admission was filed. On January 12, 2004, she was transported to the State Hospital, where her detention continued. Notice of her detention was filed, and a hearing to modify her alternative treatment order was scheduled to take place by interactive television ("ITV"). K.P. objected to the modification hearing's being held by ITV. On January 13, 2004, K.P. moved for a change of venue. On January 13, 2004, following a telephonic hearing, the motion was denied. On January 14, 2004, a hearing was held regarding the modification of K.P.'s alternative treatment plan.

[¶ 5] At the hearing, Amy Axtmann, K.P.'s primary case manager, testified that upon initial release from the State Hospital, K.P. was in compliance with the court order and was doing well. She testified that on November 21, 2003, she received a call from staff at the transitional living facility where K.P. was residing, reporting that K.P. was rude, more irritable, and more caustic toward staff and was not "redirectable." Axtmann testified she spoke with Dr. Faust and a decision was made to increase K.P.'s medication. She testified that K.P. was willing to increase her medication and that she noticed a decrease in symptoms.

[¶ 6] Axtmann also testified that on December 18, 2003, she received another phone call from the staff at the transitional living facility. She testified that the staff reported K.P. was exhibiting bizarre behaviors. She testified she met with K.P. and saw that K.P. was using her oven for heat. She testified that K.P. agreed to be more cooperative and to allow staff to enter her apartment to monitor her.

[¶ 7] Axtmann also testified that on December 24 and 25, 2003, K.P. was authorized to go on a 24-hour pass. She testified K.P. agreed to take her medication prior to leaving the transitional living facility and to take her medication during the time she would be gone. Axtmann testified that when she went to see K.P. on December 29, 2003, K.P. told her she had taken a "med holiday" because she felt she was overmedicated and did not want the medications. Axtmann testified they discussed the fact that 100 percent medication compliance was a condition of K.P.'s being in the community and K.P. agreed to comply. Axtmann testified K.P. admitted she did not take her medication and had missed a total of three doses.

[¶ 8] Axtmann also testified that on January 2, 2004, she met with K.P. She testified that K.P. was belligerent, unredirectable, and argumentative with her and with the staff at the transitional living facility. She testified she met with Dr. Faust and a decision was made to again increase K.P.'s medication. She testified K.P. refused the increase in medication.

*747 [¶ 9] Axtmann also testified that on January 5, 2004, she was contacted by the staff at the transitional living facility because K.P. was again using her oven for heat, acting belligerently, and showing signs of increased irritability. She testified that after she twice talked with K.P., K.P. agreed to increase her medication and to allow staff to come into her apartment.

[¶ 10] Also at the hearing, Dr. Elizabeth Faust, K.P.'s psychiatrist, testified K.P.'s medication was increased in November as a result of an abrupt deterioration in her condition. She testified there was a sudden exacerbation of K.P.'s symptoms again in December. She testified that around Christmastime, K.P. was not in compliance with her medication and they had not been able to stabilize her since then. She testified they increased K.P.'s medication for a second time on January 2, 2004, hoping to stabilize K.P., but it did not work.

[¶ 11] Also at the hearing, Elizabeth Gravalin, a licensed practical nurse ("LPN") employed with SEHSC, testified she received a phone call on January 9, 2004, at 11:45 a.m. from Cass County Social Services ("Social Services") in Fargo. She testified that a person at the Social Services office reported K.P. was in their basement and that in view of K.P.'s behavior, a decision was made to assess the situation and consider emergency commitment. She testified she requested Fargo Police Department backup because past experience demonstrated that K.P. becomes belligerent and violent when presenting in this manner.

[¶ 12] Gravalin testified that when she arrived at the Social Services office, K.P. had left and was walking rapidly down the street. Gravalin and the police officer approached K.P. and informed her that a call had been received from Social Services and that because of her reported behavior and her actions at that time, they were looking at readmitting her to the hospital. She testified K.P. was belligerent and irate. She also testified that K.P. yelled at the police officer and at her. She testified that while the officer was trying to coax K.P. into his vehicle, she struggled away and ran up the hood of the police car. She testified that the police officer grabbed K.P. by the back of her coat and that K.P. yelled, screamed, and fought. She testified K.P. then pulled a medical scalpel out of her pocket. K.P. was taken to the MeritCare Hospital emergency room.

[¶ 13] The district court found K.P. had not complied with the terms of the alternative treatment order and the alternative treatment order had not been sufficient to prevent K.P. from inflicting harm or injury upon herself or others. The district court terminated the order for alternative treatment and ordered K.P. hospitalized at the State Hospital until March 20, 2004.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2004 ND 52, 676 N.W.2d 744, 2004 WL 434628, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-kp-nd-2004.