OPINION
MAASSEN, Justice.
I. INTRODUCTION
The superior court issued a 80-day involuntary commitment order after finding that Mark V. was gravely disabled and "entirely unable to fend for himself independently in the community.
Mark argues that there was insufficient evidence to prove he could not live independently. Although Mark's appeal is technically moot, his claim raises an important question that satisfies the public interest exception: Where does family and community support fit within the involuntary commitment process and which party bears the burden of proving. or disproving that a respondent has that support? We hold that the respondent's inability to function with outside support, when relevant, is part of the petitioner's burden of proving that there is no less restrictive alternative to commitment. But we find in this case that the State?
evidence satisfied this burden, and we therefore affirm the 30-day commitment order.
II FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
Anchorage police took Mark V. into emer-geney custody and transported him to the psychiatric emergency department at Providence Alaska Medical Center after he "presented himself nude in public" and claimed to be the King of England. Later that same day Providence petitioned the superior court for an ex parte order authorizing Mark's hospitalization at Alaska Psychiatric Institute (APT), based on its determination that he was "gravely disabled" as a result of paranoid schizophrenia. The petition alleged that Mark was living in squalor and unable to adequately provide for his basic needs.
The superior court granted the petition and ordered that Mark be transported to API for an evaluation period not to exeeed 72 hours. Within that 72-hour period the State filed another petition, signed by psychiatrist Dr. LeeAnn Gee and a registered nurse, seeking to extend Mark's commitment for an additional 30 days. The petition alleged that Mark was gravely disabled due to his symptoms, that he could improve with treatment, and that there were no less restrictive alternatives to involuntary commitment. The petition listed Mark's parents as potential witnesses for the State.
A 30-day commitment hearing was held before Magistrate Judge Una Gandbhir. Dr. Gee, Mark's attending psychiatrist at API since his admission, was the State's sole witness. She testified that Mark's symptoms were most representative of a bipolar type of schizophrenic disorder with manic episodes. She testified that Mark was gravely disabled as a result: He had difficulty caring for himself, was increasingly agitated, exposed himself, threatened to hit people, and had difficulty redirecting his attention away from his delusions. But Dr. Gee also said she did not believe Mark was truly a physical threat to others or in danger of harming himself.
Dr. Gee testified that a 80-day commitment would help Mark stabilize because he could consistently receive the increased dosages of medication necessary to resolve his manic symptoms. She acknowledged that Mark had been taking medication on an outpatient basis and that he regularly received services through Anchorage Community Mental Health, She noted that Mark accepted his medication at scheduled times, but that when he was agitated he resisted taking medication that would help calm him down. Dr. Gee testified that, as a result of Mark's refusal to take oral medications, API staff had several times been required to administer emergency injections to calm him down when he became aggressive and threatening. She was concerned that Mark's inappropriate behavior would continue if he were released before his manic symptoms improved and that he would eventually return to the emer-geney room and API. Dr. Gee gave her opinion that if Mark returned home he would not "be able to properly maintain himself and to clean up his apartment." She testified that Mark "would continue to need his parents to help him with food or cooking at this point in time."
Mark testified next. He described the process of acquiring medication as an outpatient, identified his doctor, and agreed to continue taking his medication, though he also made conflicting statements about whether he needed it. He described exposing himself as a "mistake in judgment" and said he would sign a behavior contract to stop doing it. He testified that he used the food stamp program, paid his rent on time, and usually cleaned his apartment if given notice of an upcoming inspection. He testified that his parents helped him, but he also asserted that his father had "ripped [him] off for like, $11 grand." At the close of his testimony Mark's attorney argued that Mark should be returned home on an outpatient treatment basis as a less restrictive alternative to hospitalization at API
The magistrate judge made oral findings that, based on Dr. Gee's testimony, there was clear and convincing evidence that Mark was gravely disabled as a result of his mental illness and there was no less restrictive alternative to hospitalization The magistrate judge's subsequent written order reiterated her findings that Mark was "mentally ill and gravely disabled," based both on Dr. Gee's testimony and the judge's own observations
of Mark's behavior in the courtroom, which "included several uncontrollable outbursts, during which he expressed among other things his religious convictions, fear of the judicial officer, a desire not to be executed for a parking ticket, and the assertion that he is a sorcerer." The magistrate judge also noted Mark's "complete inability to be redirected in any way." She concluded that Mark's mental illness and behavior "impair his judgment and reasoning to the point where he would be entirely unable to fend for himself independently in the community."
The superior court approved the 30-day commitment order a few days later; it had an expiration date of April 25, 2014.
IH. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
"Factual findings in involuntary commitment ... proceedings are reviewed for clear error," and we reverse only if we have "a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made."
"(Whether factual findings comport with the requirements of AS 47.30" is a question of law we review de novo.
The mootness doctrine presents a question of law, and we "resolve issues of mootness using our independent judgment."
We also apply our independent judgment to questions of statutory interpretation.
We adopt the rule of law that is "most persuasive in light of precedent, reason, and policy."
IV. DISCUSSION -
A. We Consider The Burden Of Proof ~- Issue Under The Public Interest Exception To The Mootness Doctrine.
Mark argues that the superior court, in finding that he was "gravely disabled" in part because of his inability to function independently, gave insufficient consideration to the possibility that he could function independently if he had appropriate support from his family. The State responds that it was Mark's burden to prove that such outside support existed.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
OPINION
MAASSEN, Justice.
I. INTRODUCTION
The superior court issued a 80-day involuntary commitment order after finding that Mark V. was gravely disabled and "entirely unable to fend for himself independently in the community.
Mark argues that there was insufficient evidence to prove he could not live independently. Although Mark's appeal is technically moot, his claim raises an important question that satisfies the public interest exception: Where does family and community support fit within the involuntary commitment process and which party bears the burden of proving. or disproving that a respondent has that support? We hold that the respondent's inability to function with outside support, when relevant, is part of the petitioner's burden of proving that there is no less restrictive alternative to commitment. But we find in this case that the State?
evidence satisfied this burden, and we therefore affirm the 30-day commitment order.
II FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
Anchorage police took Mark V. into emer-geney custody and transported him to the psychiatric emergency department at Providence Alaska Medical Center after he "presented himself nude in public" and claimed to be the King of England. Later that same day Providence petitioned the superior court for an ex parte order authorizing Mark's hospitalization at Alaska Psychiatric Institute (APT), based on its determination that he was "gravely disabled" as a result of paranoid schizophrenia. The petition alleged that Mark was living in squalor and unable to adequately provide for his basic needs.
The superior court granted the petition and ordered that Mark be transported to API for an evaluation period not to exeeed 72 hours. Within that 72-hour period the State filed another petition, signed by psychiatrist Dr. LeeAnn Gee and a registered nurse, seeking to extend Mark's commitment for an additional 30 days. The petition alleged that Mark was gravely disabled due to his symptoms, that he could improve with treatment, and that there were no less restrictive alternatives to involuntary commitment. The petition listed Mark's parents as potential witnesses for the State.
A 30-day commitment hearing was held before Magistrate Judge Una Gandbhir. Dr. Gee, Mark's attending psychiatrist at API since his admission, was the State's sole witness. She testified that Mark's symptoms were most representative of a bipolar type of schizophrenic disorder with manic episodes. She testified that Mark was gravely disabled as a result: He had difficulty caring for himself, was increasingly agitated, exposed himself, threatened to hit people, and had difficulty redirecting his attention away from his delusions. But Dr. Gee also said she did not believe Mark was truly a physical threat to others or in danger of harming himself.
Dr. Gee testified that a 80-day commitment would help Mark stabilize because he could consistently receive the increased dosages of medication necessary to resolve his manic symptoms. She acknowledged that Mark had been taking medication on an outpatient basis and that he regularly received services through Anchorage Community Mental Health, She noted that Mark accepted his medication at scheduled times, but that when he was agitated he resisted taking medication that would help calm him down. Dr. Gee testified that, as a result of Mark's refusal to take oral medications, API staff had several times been required to administer emergency injections to calm him down when he became aggressive and threatening. She was concerned that Mark's inappropriate behavior would continue if he were released before his manic symptoms improved and that he would eventually return to the emer-geney room and API. Dr. Gee gave her opinion that if Mark returned home he would not "be able to properly maintain himself and to clean up his apartment." She testified that Mark "would continue to need his parents to help him with food or cooking at this point in time."
Mark testified next. He described the process of acquiring medication as an outpatient, identified his doctor, and agreed to continue taking his medication, though he also made conflicting statements about whether he needed it. He described exposing himself as a "mistake in judgment" and said he would sign a behavior contract to stop doing it. He testified that he used the food stamp program, paid his rent on time, and usually cleaned his apartment if given notice of an upcoming inspection. He testified that his parents helped him, but he also asserted that his father had "ripped [him] off for like, $11 grand." At the close of his testimony Mark's attorney argued that Mark should be returned home on an outpatient treatment basis as a less restrictive alternative to hospitalization at API
The magistrate judge made oral findings that, based on Dr. Gee's testimony, there was clear and convincing evidence that Mark was gravely disabled as a result of his mental illness and there was no less restrictive alternative to hospitalization The magistrate judge's subsequent written order reiterated her findings that Mark was "mentally ill and gravely disabled," based both on Dr. Gee's testimony and the judge's own observations
of Mark's behavior in the courtroom, which "included several uncontrollable outbursts, during which he expressed among other things his religious convictions, fear of the judicial officer, a desire not to be executed for a parking ticket, and the assertion that he is a sorcerer." The magistrate judge also noted Mark's "complete inability to be redirected in any way." She concluded that Mark's mental illness and behavior "impair his judgment and reasoning to the point where he would be entirely unable to fend for himself independently in the community."
The superior court approved the 30-day commitment order a few days later; it had an expiration date of April 25, 2014.
IH. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
"Factual findings in involuntary commitment ... proceedings are reviewed for clear error," and we reverse only if we have "a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made."
"(Whether factual findings comport with the requirements of AS 47.30" is a question of law we review de novo.
The mootness doctrine presents a question of law, and we "resolve issues of mootness using our independent judgment."
We also apply our independent judgment to questions of statutory interpretation.
We adopt the rule of law that is "most persuasive in light of precedent, reason, and policy."
IV. DISCUSSION -
A. We Consider The Burden Of Proof ~- Issue Under The Public Interest Exception To The Mootness Doctrine.
Mark argues that the superior court, in finding that he was "gravely disabled" in part because of his inability to function independently, gave insufficient consideration to the possibility that he could function independently if he had appropriate support from his family. The State responds that it was Mark's burden to prove that such outside support existed. Mark's 30-day commitment period is long past, and we held in Wetherhorn v. Alaska Psychiatric Institute that an appeal of a commitment order becomes moot when the commitment period ends.
However, we review moot questions that satisfy either the public interest exception or the collateral consequences exception.
Here, we conclude that the public interest exception enables us to decide an issue raised by Mark's appeal: Where does family and community support fit within the involuntary commitment process, and who bears the burden of proving or disproving whether the respondent has that support?
We consider three factors in determining whether the public interest exception applies to an otherwise moot appeal: "(1) whether the disputed issues are capable of repetition, (2) whether the mootness doe-trine, if applied, may cause review of the issues to be repeatedly cireumvented, and (8) whether the issues are so important to the public interest as to justify overriding the mootness doctrine."
All three factors weigh in favor of review in this case. First, the disputed issue is capable of repetition because it concerns the interpretation of the often-used civil commitment statutes and does not depend on Mark's particular circumstances.
Second, review of the issue
could be repeatedly cireamvented, since appeals of 30-day commitment orders are invariably mooted by the passage of time. And finally, the issue implicates the public interest, We have emphasized that our involuntary commitment statutes must be interpreted to protect "against the 'massive curtailment of liberty' that involuntary commitment represents" and the "variety of dangers particular to those subject to civil commitment."
Because the public interest exception to the mootness doctrine is satisfied, we review the burden of proof issue on its merits.
B. The Petitioner Bears The Burden Of Proving, By Clear And Convine- \ ing Evidence, That A Respondent Is Gravely Disabled And That Commitment Is The Least Restrictive Alternative.
Involuntary 80-day commitments are authorized by law for persons who are found to be "gravely disabled."
"Gravely disabled," in turn, is defined to include
a condition in which a person as a result of mental illness
6x 6
(B) will, if not treated, suffer or continue to suffer severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress, and this distress is associated with significant impairment of judgment, reason, or behavior causing & substantial deterioration of the person's previous ability to function inde-péendently. [
]
The commitment order in this case was based on the court's finding that Mark's "mental illness and resulting behavior currently impair his judgment and reasoning to the point where he would be entirely unable to fend for himself independently in the community." Mark argues that the court misinterpreted the phrase "function independently" in AS 47.80.915(9)(B) because the court failed to account for assistance that Mark's family could provide. The State responds that it was Mark's burden to prove he had the necessary outside support and he failed to carry that burden.
We decline to place this burden on the respondent. Proving the respondent's inability to function independently with support, when relevant, is simply a part of the petitioner's burden of proving that there is no less restrictive alternative to involuntary commitment-a required element of any pe-tltlon
Under the governing statute, it is the State's burden in an involuntary commitment case to establish "by clear and convine-ing evidence" that the respondent is "gravely disabled."
We observed in Wetherhorn that part (B) of the "gravely disabled" definition, the one relevant here, appears to respond directly to the United States Supreme Court's admonition that it is unconstitutional to confine, "without morel[,] a nondangerous individual who is capable of surviving safely in freedom by himself,"
As we also noted,
the Supreme Court requires a trial court to find "that the person is 'helpless to avoid the hazards of freedom either through his own efforts or with the help of willing fomily members or friends?
This case requires that we clarify and expand on what we said in Wetherhorn. We reiterate that a person's inability to function outside of an institutional setting even with the support of fomily and friends is indeed a constitutionally-required part of the test for whether the person may be involuntarily committed. But whether the person has such outside support is an issue that fits uneasily within the definition of "gravely disabled" in AS 47.30.915(9)(B). The definition establishes "the person's previous ability to function independently" as the baseline from which "a gubstantial deterioration" is measured; however, it is the "substantial deterioration" in that ability that is important to whether the person has become "gravely disabled," not the ability's current or historic level. In other words, under a literal reading of the definition, a person may be "gravely disabled" because of a substantial deterioration in the person's condition despite retaining some "ability to function independent ly.
But Wetherhorn makes clear that the test for involuntary commitment must address the critical issue of whether the person can function independently with support, as defined in O'Connor-if not in the definition of "gravely disabled"
then elsewhere. And a different place in the. analysis better corresponds with the language and structure of Alaska's 30-day commitment statutes. State policy requires that persons suffering from mental illness "be treated in the least restrictive alternative environment consistent with their treatment needs."
A "least restrictive alternative" is defined in AS 47.30.915(11) to mean: a
mental health treatment facilities and conditions of treatment that
(A) are no more harsh, hazardous, or intrusive than necessary to achieve the treatment objectives of the patient; and
(B) involve no restrictions on physical movement nor supervised residence or inpatient care except as reasonably necessary for the administration of treatment or the protection of the patient or others from physical injury.
Consistent with this state policy and the explanatory definition, among the allegations that must be made in any petition for 80-day commitment is "that the evaluation staff has considered but has not found that there are any less restrictive alternatives available that would adequately protect the respondent or others; or, if a less restrictive involuntary form of treatment is sought, specify the treatment and the basis for supporting it."
The availability of "less restrictive alterns-tives" is also addressed in AS 47.30.7835, which explains the procedures and possible outcomes of a 30-day commitment hearing. Subsection (d) provides: "If the court finds that there is a viable less restrictive alternative available and that the respondent has been advised of and refused voluntary treatment through the alternative, the court may order the less restrictive alternative treatment for not more than 80. days if the program accepts the respondent."
But the stat
ute does not expressly require the court to find as a prerequisite to commitment that there are no less restrictive alternatives, nor does it expressly apply the "clear and convincing evidence" standard of proof to any issues other than whether "the respondent is mentally ill and as a result is likely to cause harm to the respondent or others or is gravely disabled."
But as noted above, our precedent makes clear that the court's consideration of less restrictive alternatives to confinement, including whether the person is "helpless to avoid the hazards of freedom ... with the aid of willing family members or friends,"
must .be a prerequisite to commitment in order for the process to be constitutionally sound. At issue in Wetherhorn was the amount of "distress" a person must be suffering before involuntary commitment is justified."
Wheth er a person could survive independently with others' help was not central to the holding, but it was a part of our analysis. We concluded "that the 'distress' that justifies commitment [under the definition of "gravely disabled" in AS 47.30.915(9)(B)] refers to a level of incapacity that prevents the person in question from being able to live safely outside of a controlled environment."
We cited the statutory requirement that a 80-day commitment petition "allege that the evaluation staff has considered but has not found that there are any less restrictive alternatives available,"
and we strongly implied that a committing court's finding on this subject, as with the other prerequisites to commitment, was subject to the "clear and convincing evidence" standard.
In a later case, In re Joan K., after affirming the superior court's finding by "clear and convincing evidence that ... [the respondent] was likely to cause harm to herself due to her mental illness," we went on to hold that "[the record [also] supports the superior court's finding" that there was no less restrictive alternative to a 30-day commitment-but we did not specify the standard under which the latter finding was reviewed.
We now make clear what was strongly implied in Wetherhorn. Because a 30-day commitment petition must "allege that the evaluation staff has considered but has not found that there are any less restrictive alternatives available that would adequately protect the respondent or others,"
and because the trial court's deliberate consideration of this issue is critical to the protection of the respondent's liberty interests, we hold that a petitioner must prove, by clear and convincing evidence, the petition's allegation that there are no less restrictive alternatives.
This is not a secondary con
cern, nor is it-as the structure of AS 47.80.735(c) and (d) might suggest-something to be considered only after the court has decided that the respondent should be committed. Finding that no less restrictive alternative exists is a constitutional prerequisite to involuntary hospitalization.
C. In Mark's Case It Was Not Error To Find That A 30-Day Commitment Was The Least Restrictive Alternative.
Mark argues that the superior court erred in finding by clear and convine-ing evidence
that he was "entirely unable to fend for himself independently in the community" because the factors upon which the court relied failed to account for his family support and thus required him to function successfully alone. But while there was evidence that Mark could receive support from his family for the usual tasks of daily living-for example, cooking and cleaning-the evidence convincingly showed that he was unlikely to continue his required medications absent a 80-day commitment, and we therefore find no error.
The only witness the State called at the hearing was Dr. Gee, Mark's treating psychiatrist.
Dr. Gee did not believe Mark was ready to "return to [his] apartment and take care of himself." She clarified that "he would continue to need his parents to help him with food or cooking at this point in time. I don't think that he would be able to properly maintain himself and to clean up his apartment ..." While this testimony acknowledged at least the possibility of family support for the cooking and cleaning aspects of independent living, Dr. Gee's major concern was with Mark's medications. She testified that his manic episodes, which caused him to be agitated, threaten others, and expose himself and which had prompted his initial 72-hour commitment, needed to be brought under control before he could be expected to go back to a successful outpatient regimen, Although Mark accepted his scheduled medication with meals, he was "reluctant to take any oral medications to help calm him throughout the day when he becomes more agitated and threatening." Dr. Gee testified that API staff had to resort several times to administering emergency injections. She concluded that although Mark had in the past "been able to live independently ... when he is taking medications and he is following up with the outpatient clinic," he required treatment at API to stabilize his mental illness before he could be released. '
Mark's comments at the hearing supported a conclusion that going back to outpatient treatment was not a realistic alternative at that time. During Dr. Gee's testimony he interjected that one of the medications was "poison. I'm allergic to that. It kills me"; he contended it had side effects related to his sexual performance; and even after promising to take his medication he later appeared to backtrack: "But I don't have to take medication at all because it's a free country. Don't you get it?"
The magistrate judge specifically found, both on the record at the close of the hearing and in the next day’s written order, that there was no less restrictive alternative for Mark than a 30-day commitment. She found based on Dr. Gee’s testimony that Mark was “currently unable to understand his situation, symptoms or current illness.” She expressed concern.“about [his] complete inability to be redirected in any way.” Noting his uncontrolled outbursts and other irrational behavior during the hearing, the magistrate judge concluded, that Mark’s “mental illness and resulting behavior currently impair his judgment and reasoning to the point y/here he would be entirely unable to fend for himself independently in the community.”
We conclude that Dr. Gee’s testimony about Mark’s needed medications and his inability to follow an outpatient regimen—testimony that was essentially unrebutted—supports the magistrate judge’s finding that there was no less restrictive alternative to the requested 3O7 day commitment, and we see no clear error in that finding.
Our conclusion in this case parallels our decision in
In re Joan K.
In that case, too, the respondent argued that the trial court erred when it ruled out outpatient treatment or a home placement, “particularly in light of [the testifying physicians’] decisions not to contact her family or prior psychiatrist to ask about [the respondent’s] potential success in such alternative settings.”
We pointed out that the superior court
did
hear testimony from the treating physicians that the respondent needed reliably-administered medications to bring her manic symptoms under control; that constant surveillance and care were necessary to ensure the success of this regimen; and that the respondent’s “changeable emotions” and lack of insight into her own behavior made it very unlikely that “she would follow through with outpatient treatment even if she said she would.”
We held this evidence sufficient to support the superi- or court’s finding that .there was no less restrictive alternative that would adequately protect both the respondent and the public.
On a similar record, we reach the same conclusion here.
V. CONCLUSION
We' AFFIRM the decision of the superior court granting the 30-day commitment petition.