Consumer Rights

Each consumer has the right to be treated with respect and dignity and will be provided the synopsis of the Bill of Rights as listed below.
(1) Each consumer shall retain all rights, benefits, and privileges guaranteed by law except those lost through due process of law.
(2) Each consumer has the right to receive services suited to his or her condition in a safe, sanitary and humane treatment environment regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, degree of disability, handicapping condition or sexual orientation.
(3) No consumer shall be neglected or sexually, physically, verbally, or otherwise abused.
(4) Each consumer shall be provided with prompt, competent, and appropriate treatment; and an individualized treatment plan. A consumer shall participate in his or her treatment programs and may consent or refuse to consent to the proposed treatment. The right to consent or refuse to consent may be abridged for those consumers adjudged incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction and in emergency situations as defined by law. Additionally, each consumer shall have the right to the following:
(A) Allow other individuals of the consumer’s choice participate in the consumer’s treatment and with the consumer’s consent;
(B) To be free from unnecessary, inappropriate, or excessive treatment;
(C) To participate in consumer’s own treatment planning;
(D) To receive treatment for co-occurring disorders if present;
(E) To not be subject to unnecessary, inappropriate, or unsafe termination from treatment; and
(F) To not be discharged for displaying symptoms of the consumer’s disorder.
(5) Every consumer’s record shall be treated in a confidential manner.
(6) No consumer shall be required to participate in any research project or medical experiment without his or her informed consent as defined by law. Refusal to participate shall not affect the services available to the consumer.
(7) A consumer shall have the right to assert grievances with respect to an alleged infringement on his or her rights.
(8) Each consumer has the right to request the opinion of an outside medical or psychiatric consultant at his or her own expense or a right to an internal consultation upon request at no expense.
(9) No consumer shall be retaliated against or subjected to any adverse change of conditions or treatment because the consumer asserted his or her rights.
(d) Each affected facility and program shall have written policy and implementing procedures, and shall provide documented staff training to insure the implementation of each and every consumer right stated in this Chapter.
(e) Each affected facility and program shall have written policy and implementing procedures to insure each consumer enjoys, and has explained to him or her, these rights, and these rights are visibly posted in both consumer and public areas of the facility.
(f) The ODMHSAS Office of Consumer Advocacy and the ODMHSAS Office of the Inspector General, in any investigation or monitoring shall have access to consumer, facility or program records and staff as set forth in this Chapter.
(g) All facilities that are certified by, operated by, or contracted with the Department shall post the contact information for the ODMHSAS Office of Inspector General and ODMHSAS Office of Consumer Advocacy prominently in each consumer treatment unit and in consumer admissions, visiting and public areas.

The above rights are meant as a synopsis of the Mental Health and Drug or Alcohol Abuse Services Bill of Rights. A full copy of the rights, OAC 450:15-3-6 through 450:15-3-27, is available upon request