State

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJanuary 10, 2018
Docket12-17-00310-CV
StatusPublished

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Bluebook
State, (Tex. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

NO. 12-17-00310-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

TYLER, TEXAS

THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR THE § APPEAL FROM THE

BEST INTEREST AND PROTECTION § COUNTY COURT AT LAW

OF G. H., § CHEROKEE COUNTY, TEXAS

MEMORANDUM OPINION G.H. appeals from an order for temporary inpatient mental health services. In his sole issue, G.H. challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court’s order. We reverse and render.

BACKGROUND

On September 19, 2017, Steve Peters with Skyview Psychiatric Facility, where G.H. was a patient, filed an application for court ordered temporary mental health services. In a team member letter, Peters stated that G.H.’s records show that he sees demons daily, refused to take Risperdal medication orally, claimed there were chemicals in his food and plastic under his skin, wanted to restrict his records to be shared with only “God loving individuals,” wanted to go home so he could go to church, and prefers to take vitamins and receive oil for his skin. Peters stated that:

Records indicate that the patient remains hyper-religious with numerous delusions, and no plans to seek treatment for mental health in the freeworld. He also adamantly opposes going to a psychiatric facility and insist[s] that he does not need to take psychotropic medications but instead needs vitamins and Holy water.

According to Peters, it appears that G.H. received treatment from a psychiatric hospital from August 3, 2016 through February 22, 2017 and has been under the care of Harris County MHMR. He stated that G.H.’s mother supported G.H., but was in agreement that he go to the hospital for further treatment. Peters explained that G.H. is unstable and the treatment team recommended that he continue treatment at Rusk State Hospital upon his release from Skyview. In a physician’s certificate, Dr. Andrey Tsyss, who evaluated G.H. on September 15, 2017 at Skyview, identified G.H.’s diagnosis as schizoaffective disorder unspecified. He stated that G.H. is mentally ill and suffers from severe and abnormal mental, emotional or physical distress, experienced substantial mental or physical deterioration of his ability to function independently, as exhibited by his inability, except for reasons of indigence, to provide for his basic needs, including food, clothing, health, or safety, and, is unable to make a rational and informed decision as to whether or not to submit to treatment. To support this conclusion, Tsyss identified the following statements by G.H.:

There have been times when I was fasting. They [demons] don’t like me. All that medications are wrong. No. My mind is not ill [when asked if he believes that he has a mental illness]. He would rather take holy water than a pill. On 7/31/17 stated, “there is a liner under my skin … I don’t need pills. I need healing water … Demonic entities are trying to spread sperm in my genitals up to my head … There is a cavity in my head, plastic pieces. I need to get it out.” On 7/31/17 stated that he sees demons on a daily basis.

Tsyss further explained that G.H. (1) refused to take antipsychotic medication, Risperdal, orally; (2) claimed there are chemicals in the food and plastic under his skin; (3) said he would take holy water rather than pills; and (4) denied having a mental illness or needing antipsychotic medication. In another physician’s certificate, Dr. Stacey R. Belcher stated that G.H. has been under her care since he arrived at Skyview on July 18, 2017. She identified G.H.’s diagnosis as schizoaffective disorder and stated that he (1) suffers from severe and abnormal mental, emotional or physical distress, (2) experiences substantial mental or physical deterioration of his ability to function independently, which is exhibited by his inability, except for reasons of indigence, to provide for his basic needs, including food, clothing, health, or safety, and (3) is unable to make a rational and informed decision as to whether or not to submit to treatment. She identified the following as a basis for this opinion:

2 During an interview, G.H. was guarded and repeatedly responded to questions with “I’d rather not speak about that” and “I don’t want to share that.” G.H. stated that he was “trying to restrict my records to be shared with only God-loving individuals” and wanted “to go home and go to church.” G.H. was “trying to get off the Risperdal,” said that he prefers to take “a vitamin for health” and “oil for my skin.” He claimed, “the doctor told me it is an oil of gladness.” When asked about the “demonic entities,” G.H. initially refused to share the information, but later stated, “Emily, she’s from 1841. She came around at the other unit and came over here with me … I don’t know if it is her or someone else who came over here with her.” He claimed that Emily does not intend to do bad things but that bad things happen. G.H. said he does not plan to follow-up with mental health treatment upon his release, but will immerse himself in church where he can “get with the saints.” G.H. claimed, “What I experience is not abnormal … I’m not unstable. I may not be where I need to be but I’m able to work.” G.H. reported having an “inability to feel lasting joy, pleasantness.” Per a July 13, 2017 evaluation, G.H. stated, “pharmaceuticals don’t help. I need God to help me. God’s children aren’t supposed to be on drugs.” He admitted that he will not take any medication. He is definitely hyper-religious in thought and preoccupied with the super natural. He stated, “I don’t know why I need to answer these questions. I’m not the same person that l was.” A July 14 referral note states: “Reason for Transfer: Patient is hyper-religious, quoting scripture and has delusions about the supernatural, “good and evil” that surround him. He spoke of having “a TV coming out of his mouth this morning, along with plastics and rubbers.” He stated that he does not eat sometimes because of what is in the food, like plastics. He reported that a plastic liner is inside him with water that was placed there, but it is fragile and can break. Patient admitted that he is having difficulty in his dorm. He is refusing his medication because “in the Bible [it] says for me to stay sober.” On or about September 21, G.H. sent a written request that read, “I am ASKING you: Make this so soon please: Please: by the name of THE GOD OF LOVE - I AM asking you to not allow anybody to send me to mental health court to try to [send] me to another hospital. I was Granted Parole (was served the paper yesterday), and it is my Right whom I choose to receive my HELP from… AND I CHOOSE to Go to THE CHURCH OF CHRIST and walk with Saints. A doctor spoke with me today. I do not want any of my records being rev[i]ewed or accessed, by non- Believers anymore - in any way. Please [send] me Home[.]” The patient was seen on 9/21 by his therapist to address the written request and she documented, “He was informed that the treatment staff had access to records as needed to provide the best care for him possible and the decisions to recommend him for civil commitment would be made by the provider. He was upset this was being considered and stated, “But Miss, I am not sick. I just need the healing waters. Please. Don’t send me to the hospital.” This writer attempted to remind him about the previous reports he was making before he was compelled to take medication and he stated, “Talking about those things got me the wrong help. I can’t talk to you about those things, only other people who should be involved in my treatment.”

According to Belcher, G.H. has a history of schizoaffective disorder bipolar type and substance abuse, and was required to attend outpatient substance abuse treatment as part of probation/parole requirements.

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State, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-texapp-2018.