Massachusetts

• Amicus Brief, filed on behalf of Aaron Needle, Benjamein Levy, the Western Massachusettts Recovery Learning Community and the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy on behalf of M.C., arguing for the right to choose that commitment hearings be held in a real courtroom.
• Barry Pollack letter to the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health regarding the abuses by Boston Children's Hospital at its Bader 5 psychiatric ward, December 21, 2013.
• Coming Off Psych Drugs Mutual Support Group in Boston.
• The Truth About Roger’s Orders: No, It’s Not About Force, by Wildflower Allianceoriginally published in January, 2018. Updated, January 2024.
• Potential Strategies memo, October 6, 2007.
• Opposing Forced Drugging ("Rogers Orders") in Massachusetts memo, February 1, 2004.
• The Freedom Center.  Freedom Center stands against the mental health system's widespread despair, abuse, fraudulent science and toxic treatments. "We call for compassion, human rights, self-determination, and holistic alternatives."  The Freedom Center is fighting forced drugging (called "Rogers Orders") and otherwise advocating:
  • ServiceNet Campaign
  • On February 28, 2005, the Republican ran a story titled, "Firing highlights feud in mental health field," which describes how the Executive Director of the local National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Chapter was fired for opening a dialogue with the Freedom Center.
  • Group Opposes Forced Drugging:  November 23, 2003, Republican's article on the Freedom Center in Northamptom, Massachusetts.
  • Advocates At Odds Over Mentally Ill: December 5, 2003, follow-up story.

• Sample Massachusetts Health Care Proxy Adapted by PsychRights to provide for the rejection of psychotropic medication from The Incapacitated Client:  Personal Decision Making, by Robert H. Weber, Esq.  Microsoft Word Version

• Massachusetts Mental Health Laws from PsychLaws.org.

• Your Rights Regarding Access to Mental Health Records in Massachusetts, Prepared by the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, February 2010

•  Mental Health Litigation Division, which is part of the Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) [the public defenders]. The primary mandate of the MHLU is to provide trial and appellate representation to indigent persons against whom are filed petitions seeking (i) commitment to public or private psychiatric facilities (see Mental Health Litigation Contents); (ii) judicial authorization to administer or terminate certain types of treatment (e.g., antipsychotic medication, aversive behavior modification, life-support mechanisms) (see Mental Health Litigation Contents); or (iii) day-to-life commitment as a "sexually dangerous person" (see SDP Commitment Contents).  The MHLU has a list of Leading Massachusetts Mental Health Cases Civil and Criminal.

• The Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee.  In 1973, the Massachusetts Legislature established The Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee (MHLAC) to secure and protect the legal rights of persons involved in mental health and retardation programs in the Commonwealth. MHLAC, appointed by the justices of the Supreme Judicial Court, consists of fourteen judges and lawyers who are knowledgeable and experienced in mental health law. The work of MHLAC is carried out by a small staff of lawyers who seek to make full use of the law to ensure that the rights of persons who are or may be regarded as mentally disabled are recognized and protected.

• M-Power's Mental Health Law Guide.

• The Center for Public Representation is a non-profit public interest law firm providing mental health law and disability law services.

• The Coalition for the Legal Rights of People with Disabilities (CLRD) is a broad coalition of legal and other advocates, including people with disabilities, united to promote empowerment, liberation, and integration of all people with disabilities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Coalition seeks to preserve and extend the supports for and rights of people with disabilities through education, legal intervention, and systematic advocacy.

• Health Law Advocates (HLA) is a is a public interest law firm founded in 1996.  HLA provides free legal representation to eligible consumers that live or work in Massachusetts and are seeking access to adequate health care services. They also fight for health care justice through the representation of groups of consumers and communities and through education and outreach. 

• The John Dewey Academy is a residential, college preparatory, therapeutic, year-round high school providing intensive, individualized instruction and therapy to alienated, angry, self-destructive, but bright adolescents that rejects the use of psychotropic medications.

• 2005 Western Mass Media Guide

Last modified 2/14/2025
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