psychrights
                   Law Project for
              Psychiatric Rights

Psychrights' First Year
Progress and Directions
November, 2003

The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights (Psychrights) was incorporated on November 6, 2002 and as it approaches its first year it is a good time to recap PsychRights' accomplishments, ongoing work and goals for 2004.

Accomplishments

• Attended National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) Conference in November, 2002, and (i) gave an off-program presentation on Psychrights' "Unwarranted Court Ordered Medication: A Call to Action," and (ii) met and formed relationships with Robert Whitaker, author of Mad in America; Loren Mosher, former Chief of Schizophrenia Studies at the National Institute of Mental Health; and Michael Perlin, professor of law at New York Law School, pre-eminent expert in mental health law.
• Brought Robert Whitaker up in December, 2002, to give presentations to (i) the Alaska Mental Health Board, (ii) Alaska Psychiatric Institute staff and other interested psychiatrists, and (iii) the Alaska Community Mental Health Services Association.
• Launched PsychRights' technical assistance efforts in February, 2003, by posting relevant scientific research by topic on its website.  http://psychrights.org/Research/Digest/Researchbytopic.htm.
• Waged successful four month all-out legal battle to free Faith Myers from the Alaska Psychiatric Institute without being subjected to a forced drugging order, starting in late February, 2003 and ending on July 3, 2003, with the Petition for Involuntary Administration of Psychotropic Medication being dismissed with prejudice.
• Received 501(c)(3), tax-exempt, publicly supported charity status approval in April, 2003, from the Internal Revenue Service in an Advance Determination Letter.
• Filed opening brief in August, 2003, to the Alaska Supreme Court in a potentially precedent-setting appeal in the Myers Case challenging the State's right to forcibly drug someone without showing it was in their best interest.
• High profile support and work on behalf of the Fast for Freedom in Mental Health in August, 2003.
• Put on very well received Mental Health Disability Law Seminar by Michael Perlin and Robert Whitaker in Anchorage, Alaska in September, 2003.
• Established an Internet listserv for mental health legal issues.
• Began establishing a network of people around the country to further PsychRights' work., including psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, attorneys, organizations and Consumers/Survivors/eX-patients (C/S/X).
• Provided some assistance or advice in approximately 40 separate cases around the country.
• Established collaborative effort with MindFreedom/Support Coalition International.
• Started compiling a state by state legal and resource guide on PsychRights' website.
• Generated over $41,000 in donations, grants, registrations and other revenue (accrual basis).

Upcoming and Continuing

• Attend the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology (ICSPP) Annual Conference, which was founded by Dr. Peter Breggin in October, 2003.
• File Reply Brief and present oral argument to Alaska Supreme Court in the potentially precedent-setting appeal challenging the state's right to forcibly drug someone without showing it was in their best interest.
• Presenting PsychRights' progress and prospects at the annual NARPA conference in November, 2003.
• Litigate and appeal selective cases.
• Continue to develop technical assistance materials.
• Provide assistance and advice in other cases around the country.
• Continue networking and organizing efforts around the country.
• Fundraising.

Major Goals for 2004

• Obtain enough funding to hire an attorney and Executive Director.
• Get major legal initiatives started in at least two other states.
• Conduct at least two major cases in Alaska.
• Develop collaborative relationships with organizations/groups in at least 6 states.