O’Connor v. Donaldson

a 1975 lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court in which it was determined that people cannot be involuntarily committed to a facility on the basis of mental illness alone if they are not dangerous to themselves or others and are able to survive safely outside the facility. A lower court ruling in this case assisted an Alabama District Court in its final ruling in Wyatt v. Stickney (1972) regarding right to treatment with involuntary commitment (see forced treatment; Wyatt v. Stickney decisionwyatt-v-stickney-decision).

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Psychology term of the day

November 23rd 2024

sibling

n. one of two or more children born of the same two parents (i.e., a sister or brother). Also called sib.