Patient's Rights

The Patients’ Rights Unit of the Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health provides Advocates to promote and represent clients’ rights and interests. 

Under California law, all clients have the right to:

• Privacy, dignity, and humane care
• Be free from abuse, neglect or harm, including unnecessary or excessive physical restraint, isolation, or medication
• Be free from discrimination
• Religious freedom and practice
• Participate in appropriate programs of publicly supported education
• Social interaction and recreation

Certification Review Hearings

Clients who have been placed on a hold in accordance with Welfare & Institution Code 5250 are entitled to a certification review hearing. Riverside County Department of Mental Health Patients’ Rights Advocates routinely represent clients at these hearings to advocate for the client in the doctor’s decision to treat a person involuntarily.

Capacity Hearings

Patients’ Rights Advocates routinely represent clients who refuse medication during their involuntary treatment period. These hearings are held to determine whether the person has the capacity to refuse medications.