# Outagamie County v. Melanie L.

> Wisconsin Supreme Court · July 11, 2013 · 349 Wis. 2d 148

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/1033477

## Case

- **Full name:** In the Matter of the Mental Commitment of Melanie L.: Outagamie County, Petitioner-Respondent, v. Melanie L., Respondent-Appellant-Petitioner
- **Court:** Wisconsin Supreme Court
- **Decided:** July 11, 2013
- **Citations:** 349 Wis. 2d 148; 2013 WI 67
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion
- **Judges:** Prosser, Ziegler
- **Cited by:** 97 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/1033477

## How later opinions describe it (automated extraction)

- explaining distinction between a subject’s ability to express understanding of recommended medication and subject’s ability to apply that understanding to subject’s circumstances

## Opinion text

2013 WI 67

SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN
CASE NO.: 2012AP99
COMPLETE TITLE: In the matter of the mental commitment of
Melanie L.:

Outagamie County,
Petitioner-Respondent,
v.
Melanie L.,
Respondent-Appellant-Petitioner.

REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS
Reported at 342 Wis. 2d 253, 816 N.W.2d 352
(Ct. App. 2012 – Unpublished)

OPINION FILED: July 11, 2013
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS:
ORAL ARGUMENT: February 26, 2013

SOURCE OF APPEAL:
COURT: Circuit
COUNTY: Outagamie
JUDGE: Michael W. Gage

JUSTICES:
CONCURRED:
DISSENTED: ZIEGLER, ROGGENSACK, GABLEMAN, JJJ., dissent.
(Opinion filed.)
NOT PARTICIPATING:

ATTORNEYS:
For the respondent-appellant-petitioner, there were briefs
by Suzanne Hagopian, assistant state public defender, and oral
argument by Suzanne Hagopian.

For the petitioner-respondent, there was a brief by Mark G.
Schroeder, assistant corporation counsel, and Outagamie County,
and oral argument by Mark G. Schroeder.
An amicus curiae brief was filed by Kristin M.
Kerschensteiner, Madison, on behalf of Disability Rights
Wisconsin.

2
2013 WI 67
NOTICE
This opinion is subject to further
editing and modification. The final
version will appear in the bound
volume of the official reports.
No. 2012AP99
(L.C. No. 2011ME17)

STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT

In the matter of the mental commitment of
Melanie L.:

Outagamie County, FILED
Petitioner-Respondent,
JUL 11, 2013
v.
Diane M. Fremgen
Clerk of Supreme Court
Melanie L.,

Respondent-Appellant-Petitioner.

REVIEW of a decision of the Court of Appeals. Reversed.

¶1 DAVID T. PROSSER, J. This is a review of an

unpublished decision of the court of appeals,1 affirming a

decision of the Outagamie County Circuit Court2 that granted

1
Outagamie Cnty. v. Melanie L., No. 2012AP99, unpublished
slip op. (Wis. Ct. App. May 22, 2012).
2
Judge Michael Gage presiding.
No. 2012AP99

Outagamie County's (the County) petition for the extension of an

involuntary medication order against Melanie L. (Melanie).

¶2 Originally the County sought and obtained a court

order for Melanie's mental health commitment under Chapter 51.

The court committed Melanie to the County for outpatient care

and custody for a period of six months. The court also issued

an order for involuntary medication and treatment. Melanie did

not challenge either of these two orders.

¶3 Shortly before the end of the six months, the County

sought, and the circuit court granted, an extension of both

orders for an additional 12 months.

¶4 With respect to the latter order, the County relied on

Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b.3 to establish that Melanie was

incompetent to refuse medication. The statute provides:

4. . . . [A]n individual is not competent to
refuse medication or treatment if, because of mental
illness . . . and after the advantages and
disadvantages of and alternatives to accepting the
particular medication or treatment have been explained
to the individual, one of the following is true:

. . . .

b. The individual is substantially incapable
of applying an understanding of the advantages,
disadvantages and alternatives to his or her
mental illness . . . in order to make an informed
choice as to whether to accept or refuse
medication or treatment.
Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b.

3
All subsequent references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to
the 2009-10 version unless otherwise indicated.

2
No. 2012AP99

¶5 Melanie appealed only the extension of the involuntary

medication order. She contended that the County did not meet

its burden of proving her incompetent to refuse treatment under

Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b.

¶6 Specifically, Melanie argued that the examining

doctor's opinion that she was incompetent to refuse medication

did not satisfy the statutory standard because the doctor

testified that Melanie was not "capable of applying the benefits

of the medication to her advantage" rather than that she was

substantially incapable of applying an understanding of the

advantages, disadvantages, and alternatives to her mental

illness in order to make an informed choice as to whether to

accept or refuse medication. Melanie also argued that the

circuit court misapplied the statutory standard by relying too

heavily on her mental illness to support the medication order,

even though there was evidence that she could apply an

understanding of the advantages, disadvantages, and alternatives

of medication to her mental illness.
¶7 The court of appeals affirmed, concluding that the

examining doctor's report and testimony, along with other
evidence in the record, supported the circuit court's findings.

In short, the court of appeals agreed that Melanie could not
apply the "advantages of taking or the disadvantages of not

taking psychotropic medication to her present circumstance."
Outagamie Cnty. v. Melanie L., No. 2012AP99, unpublished slip

op., ¶13, (Wis. Ct. App. May 22, 2012) (internal quotation marks

omitted).
3
No. 2012AP99

¶8 We reverse the court of appeals. The circuit court

misstated the burden of proof. In any event, the County failed

to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Melanie was

"substantially incapable of applying" an understanding of the

advantages, disadvantages, and alternatives of her prescribed

medication to her mental illness in order to make an informed

choice as to whether to accept or refuse the medication. The

County did not overcome Melanie's presumption of competence to

make an informed choice to refuse medication.

¶9 In particular, the medical expert's terminology and

recitation of facts did not sufficiently address and meet the

statutory standard. Medical experts must apply the standards

set out in the competency statute. An expert's use of different

language to explain his or her conclusions should be linked back

to the standards in the statute. When a county disapproves of

the choices made by a person under an involuntary medication

order, it should make a detailed record of the person's

noncompliance in taking prescribed medication and show why the
noncompliance demonstrates the person's substantial incapability

of applying his or her understanding of the medication to his or
her mental illness.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶10 Melanie is a 25-year-old woman living in Outagamie

County who suffers from mental illness.
¶11 Melanie first experienced issues with her mental

health in January 2009 when she was living in Michigan. At that

time, Melanie's symptoms included insomnia, depression,
4
No. 2012AP99

paranoia, and "a delusional belief that other persons had been

attempting to poison her or harm her in other ways." Melanie

called in sick to her place of work and stayed home, terrified.

With her mother's help, she voluntarily admitted herself to

Henry Ford Macomb Hospital where she was detained for nine days

and diagnosed with major depressive disorder, with psychotic

features. Melanie "responded favorably" to Risperdal, an

antipsychotic medication, while at the hospital, and was

instructed upon her release to continue taking Risperdal and

participate in outpatient counseling. However, she stopped

using Risperdal when her prescription ran out because she said

she could not afford it and because she did not like Risperdal's

side effects. Melanie also claimed that she could not afford

outpatient counseling.

¶12 In 2010 Melanie moved to Wisconsin to "kind of start

over." She lived with a number of roommates in Neenah, then

moved into her own apartment in Appleton. She completed a one-

semester certified nursing assistant program at Fox Valley
Technical College, and she worked in retail at a department

store. Although she was not taking any medication during this
time, Melanie reported no problems, and her records did not

indicate any problems until early February 2011.
¶13 On February 3 Melanie left work early because she felt

anxious and paranoid.4 Melanie's boyfriend later found her
4
In the report of Dr. Indu Dave, one of the two doctors
ordered to conduct an evaluation of Melanie prior to a final
hearing on commitment, Melanie recounted how she felt that
people were trying to "get" her.

5
No. 2012AP99

wandering around her apartment complex in a confused,

disoriented state. He took her to St. Elizabeth Hospital where

she was treated.

¶14 In the early hours of February 4, an officer from the

Appleton Police Department interviewed Melanie and her boyfriend

about her condition. The officer filed a Statement of Emergency

Detention to hold Melanie in temporary protective custody at St.

Elizabeth. The Statement listed the officer, another officer,

and Melanie's boyfriend as witnesses. It was approved for

filing by Kate Siebers (Siebers), a crisis caseworker for the

County.

¶15 On February 7, 2011, the circuit court held a probable

cause hearing as required by Wis. Stat. § 51.20(7).5 The court

found probable cause to believe that Melanie was mentally ill, a

proper subject for treatment under Chapter 51, and dangerous to

herself or others. The court also found probable cause to order

involuntary medication pending a final determination. In

particular, the court concluded——under the statutory standard of
Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b.——that Melanie was "substantially

incapable of applying an understanding of the advantages,
disadvantages and alternatives to . . . her condition [i.e.,

mental illness] in order to make an informed choice as to
whether to accept or refuse psychotropic medications." The

5
If an individual is the subject of an emergency detention
under Wis. Stat. § 51.15, then the court must hold a hearing
within 72 hours to determine if there is "probable cause to
believe the allegations made" in the Statement of Emergency
Detention are true. Wis. Stat. § 51.20(7)(a).

6
No. 2012AP99

court ordered a final hearing and directed two medical experts

to evaluate Melanie before her release from St. Elizabeth

Hospital.

¶16 Dr. David Warner, a psychologist, evaluated Melanie at

St. Elizabeth on February 11. Dr. Warner reported that at the

time of his examination, Melanie's symptoms had subsided and she

was taking Seroquel,6 an antipsychotic medication, and Ativan,7 a

medication for anxiety. Dr. Warner reported that Melanie was of

average intelligence, able to understand and answer questions,

and that her "thought processes were generally coherent and goal

directed." However, due to Melanie's "paranoia and delusions of

persecutions," Dr. Warner concluded that her "insight and

judgment regarding her loss of contact with reality were

impaired."

¶17 Dr. Warner diagnosed Melanie with Psychotic Disorder,

Not Otherwise Specified (NOS). He concluded that Melanie's

psychotic disorder "grossly impaired her judgment, behavior, and

capacity to recognize reality." Dr. Warner opined that Melanie
was "marginally incompetent to refuse treatment with

psychotropic medication," concluding that although she was able

6
The reference book Advice for the Patient lists Seroquel
as the commonly used brand name for Quetiapine.
"Quetiapine . . . is used to treat psychotic disorders, such as
schizophrenia." 2 Advice for the Patient: Drug Information in
Lay Language 1370 (24th ed. 2004).
7
Ativan is defined as the "trademark for preparations of
[L]orazepam." Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary 167
(29th ed. 2000).

7
No. 2012AP99

to express a basic understanding of the advantages,

disadvantages, and alternatives to treatment with psychotropic

medication in general terms, she had not applied "this

information to her mental illness consistently in order to make

an informed choice as to whether to accept or refuse

psychotropic medication or treatment." He added:

It is my opinion that she is dangerous to herself
primarily because she is likely incompetent to refuse
treatment with psychotropic medication and there is a
substantial probability, based on her treatment
records and recent acts and omissions, that she will
suffer severe mental and emotional harm . . . . Given
her history of not following her prescribed
psychotropic medication schedule . . . it is my
opinion that she is unlikely to avail herself of such
treatment voluntarily.
¶18 Dr. Indu Dave, a psychiatrist, performed the other

evaluation of Melanie on the same day as Dr. Warner. He found

that Melanie exhibited average intelligence, but marginal

judgment and insight. He wrote that Melanie believes "she has

some mental health issue" and "may need medication" but "does

not like taking medication." Dr. Indu Dave diagnosed Melanie

with Psychotic Disorder, NOS, but ruled out Schizophrenia,

Paranoid. Dr. Indu Dave found Melanie to be a proper subject

for commitment and treatment. With regard to medication, Dr.

Indu Dave concluded that Melanie "was able to engage herself in

a discussion regarding risk[s] and benefits of the prescribed

medication but due to her current state of mind, she was not

able to fully comprehend or apply this knowledge to herself.

She is not considered competent to refuse medications."

8
No. 2012AP99

¶19 The circuit court held a final hearing on February 18,

2011, to rule on the County's request for a six-month mental

health commitment order, and a six-month order for involuntary

medication. Melanie stipulated to both orders, while confirming

that she was taking the prescribed medication and feeling "a lot

better." The court accepted the stipulations and approved both

orders, thereby committing Melanie to the care of the Human

Services Board of the County for a period not to exceed six

months.

¶20 The commitment order provided for outpatient treatment

with conditions, which Melanie acknowledged with her signature.

These conditions included:

• Keep appointments with court-appointed examiners.

• Take all doses of psychotropic medication prescribed

for me.

• Keep all appointments with treatment providers and

case management staff.

• Cooperate with psychological and/or psychiatric
testing and therapy.

• Keep case management or treatment staff advised of
current residential address or location.8

¶21 The initial treatment plan developed for Melanie by
the County contained an additional condition: "This individual

8
These conditions appear in a standard form, ME-912,
developed by the Forms Committee of the Wisconsin Judicial
Conference.

9
No. 2012AP99

may not be involved in other forms of treatment unless approved

by her therapist at Human Services."

¶22 Melanie was assigned by the County to Dr. Milagros

Cuaresma-Ambas (Dr. Ambas) to receive psychiatric services. Her

initial caseworker was Lisa Peterson, who was replaced

temporarily by Siebers in late May 2011.

¶23 On June 16, 2011, Siebers submitted a 120-day progress

report concluding that Melanie was compliant with the conditions

of her commitment. Siebers noted, however, that Melanie

discontinued her medications because she said she became

pregnant. After reporting a miscarriage, Melanie scheduled a

follow-up appointment with Dr. Ambas to recommence medication

after Siebers reminded her that the conditions of her commitment

required her to do so.

¶24 On July 15, 2011, Siebers, in consultation with Dr.

Ambas, recommended a one-year extension of Melanie's commitment

and involuntary medication orders. Siebers' letter to the

Register in Probate stated: "It is our belief that Melanie will
not follow through with treatment without the Ch. 51.20

Commitment in place due to limited insight into her mental
illness. We also recommend a court order for Melanie to receive

medications due to her limited insight on the need for such
medications." Four days later, on July 19, the County

petitioned for an extension of the commitment and involuntary
medication orders.

¶25 At her follow-up appointment, which also occurred on

July 19, Melanie asked Dr. Ambas to prescribe Seroquel because
10
No. 2012AP99

she had done well previously on that medication. Dr. Ambas

prescribed the antipsychotic drug Seroquel, along with the

antidepressant drug Celexa,9 both to be taken regularly. In

addition, Dr. Ambas prescribed Lorazepam,10 an antianxiety drug,

to be taken as needed.

¶26 On August 14 Dr. Jagdish Dave (Dr. Dave),11 a

psychiatrist, interviewed Melanie in relation to extending her

commitment. During the interview Melanie reported that she was

taking Seroquel as prescribed and that she took Lorazepam when

she felt anxious.12 However, Melanie told Dr. Dave that she had

9
Celexa is a "trademark for a preparation of citalopram
hydrobromide." Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary 305
(29th ed. 2000). Citalopram hydrobromide is "an antidepressant
compound used in the treatment of major depressive disorder,
administered orally." Id. at 359.
10
Lorazepam is defined as "[a]n antianxiety drug of the
benzodiazepine group." Stedman's Medical Dictionary 1032 (27th
ed. 2000). See also Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary
1027 (29th ed. 2000) (defining Lorazepam as "a benzodiazepine
with anxiolytic and sedative effects, administered orally in the
treatment of anxiety disorders and short-term relief of anxiety
symptoms and as a sedative-hypnotic agent").
11
Two different psychiatrists with the last name of "Dave"
examined Melanie in regard to her Chapter 51 commitment. Dr.
Indu Dave evaluated Melanie prior to her initial February 2011
commitment. Dr. Jagdish Dave performed the County's evaluation
of Melanie for its petition for extension and testified at the
extension hearing. The full name of Dr. Indu Dave is used to
distinguish him from Dr. Jagdish Dave (Dr. Dave). Dr. Dave's
report and testimony are more important to this case than Dr.
Indu Dave's report.
12
As an example, Melanie recounted that she took Lorazepam
when she felt depressed following her miscarriage and when she
was anxious about her upcoming wedding.

11
No. 2012AP99

stopped taking Celexa because she did not feel anxious and

believed the Seroquel was sufficient. Melanie also informed Dr.

Dave during the interview that she was not happy with Dr. Ambas

(she "does not know what she is doing"); she did not like

clinical therapist Siebers; and she now had private insurance

and was seeking treatment through another doctor on her own.

¶27 Ultimately, Dr. Dave's report to the circuit court

concluded that Melanie was a proper subject for extension of a

Chapter 51 commitment and that she was incompetent to refuse

psychotropic medication. The doctor's report concluded that

Melanie suffered from Psychotic Disorder, NOS, "a substantial

disorder of thoughts and perception, which grossly impairs her

judgment, capacity to recognize reality, [and] ability to care

for herself." Dr. Dave reported that Melanie's condition was

treatable, but she would revert to "the previous level of mental

status" if the court did not extend her commitment. The doctor

also recommended that the court extend the order for involuntary

administration of medication. His report stated that Melanie,
based upon her educational background, was "able to express the

benefits and risk of the psychotropic medication; however, she
is unable to apply such understanding to her advantage and she

is considered to be not competent to refuse psychotropic

medication. . . . The patient would not comply with

psychotropic medication without [an] involuntary administration

order from the court." (Emphasis added.)

12
No. 2012AP99

¶28 At the hearing on the petition for extension of the

commitment and involuntary medication orders, the County

presented Siebers and Dr. Dave as witnesses.

¶29 Siebers testified that there had been no

hospitalizations during Melanie's six-month commitment, and she

was "mostly compliant" with doctor appointments; however, she

needed to be prompted to reschedule appointments, and there was

a question about her compliance with the medication order.

"There's always concern when our clients discontinue their

medications or choose to adjust their medications without

doctor's advice," Siebers testified. She acknowledged speaking

with Melanie only two or three times by telephone since late

May.13 Relying on her more frequent conversations with Dr.

Ambas, Siebers concluded that Melanie lacked "insight into the

purpose of treatment."

¶30 Dr. Dave testified that he discussed with Melanie the

advantages, disadvantages, and alternatives to psychotropic

medication. The doctor also testified that Melanie was able to
express an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of

medication: Melanie knew which medications she had been
prescribed, when she took those medications, and the effects of

those medications on her. However, Dr. Dave repeated the

13
Siebers testified that she had tried several times to
reach Melanie by telephone but, for a time, Melanie's phone was
disconnected. She testified that she had not been promptly
notified of Melanie's new telephone number. Melanie told the
court that she had left her new telephone number in a voice
mail.

13
No. 2012AP99

conclusion in his written report——that Melanie was not capable

of "applying the benefits of the medication to her advantage."

Dr. Dave's testimony included the following exchanges:

Q. Doctor, have you had an opportunity to discuss
the advantages and disadvantages and alternatives to
treatment with [Melanie]?

A. Yes, I did.

Q. And based upon that conversation, do you have an
opinion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty as
to whether [Melanie] is substantially incapable of
applying an understanding of the advantages,
disadvantages, and alternatives to her condition such
that she would be able to accept or refuse
psychotropic medications on an [informed] basis?

A. I do not think that she's capable of applying the
benefits of the medication to her advantage.

. . . .

Q. Okay. And the psychotic disorder not otherwise
specified, Doctor, would that include or manifest
substantial disruption in thought and perception?

A. Yes.

. . . .

Q. And, Doctor, one last question. To a degree of
medical certainty, do you have an opinion as to
whether [Melanie,] if treatment were withdrawn[,]
would be a proper subject for commitment?

A. Yes.

Q. And why——why is that?

A. Because in my opinion, she is not reliable for
continuing the treatment on a voluntary basis, and if
she does not continue recommended treatment, she would
relapse, and she would end up institutionalized, and
she would again be initiated a Chapter 51 commitment.

14
No. 2012AP99

. . . .

[Cross-examination by Mr. Lutgen, Melanie's attorney]

Q. And did you discuss the benefits and risks of the
psychotropic medicines?

A. Yes, I did.

Q. And Melanie was able to express those benefits
and risks to you in that conversation?

A. She was able to express but was not capable of
applying it to her advantage.
¶31 Melanie was present at the hearing but did not

testify, as was her right. Wis. Stat. § 51.20(5). Her attorney

did not present other evidence. Melanie did give a brief

unsworn statement to the court. Consequently, Circuit Judge

Michael Gage, who had conducted the commitment hearing in

February, had the testimony of Dr. Dave, his five-page written

report, and the testimony of Siebers as the evidence upon which

to base his ruling. Judge Gage may have considered the July 15

letter signed by Siebers and Dr. Ambas to the Register in

Probate recommending that the court extend the involuntary

medication order.

¶32 The circuit court determined that Melanie had a mental

illness and was a proper subject for treatment under Chapter 51,

extending both the commitment order and the involuntary

medication order.

¶33 With regard to the involuntary medication order, the

circuit court found Melanie to be able to "reflect on her

treatment and course of treatment in an intelligent way." Yet,

the court commented that this intelligent reflection did not

15
No. 2012AP99

provide a basis to discount the testimony of Dr. Dave and

Siebers. The court also noted that "the very nature of"

Melanie's "underlying diagnostic malady" of paranoia and

delusional thinking "gives proper concern for and to the

reliability of her own self-assessment . . . ." The circuit

court ultimately concluded that Melanie "is a person that by the

clear greater weight of the evidence is not one who can reliably

apply an understanding of the advantages and

disadvantages . . . of not taking psychotropic medications to

her present circumstance." The court's extension order states a

finding embodying the statutory standard under Wis. Stat.

§ 51.61(1)(g)4.b.14

¶34 Melanie appealed only the extension of the involuntary

medication order. Melanie L., slip op., ¶1. She argued that

the statutory standard——which required the County to prove by

clear and convincing evidence that she was "substantially

incapable of applying an understanding of the advantages,

disadvantages and alternatives" of medication to her condition——

was not substantiated by the evidence and not met by Dr. Dave's

14
While ordering the administration of involuntary
medication, the circuit court still hoped that Melanie would be
consulted in treatment decisions:

It seems to me clear that a treatment provider ought
to listen very carefully to, be mindful of, and weigh
in a significant way [Melanie]'s concerns and
expressed concerns because she's capable of insight,
and she certainly is an intelligent person and has the
capacity of thinking clearly to act with insightful
intelligence.
16
No. 2012AP99

opinion that she was unable to apply an understanding "to her

advantage." Id., ¶10. Melanie also argued on appeal that the

circuit court based its finding of incompetence to refuse

medication on the fact that she was mentally ill, contrary to

this court's holding in Virgil D. v. Rock County, 189 Wis. 2d 1,

524 N.W.2d 894 (1994). Id., ¶13.

¶35 The court of appeals affirmed the involuntary

medication extension, holding that despite the existence of

evidence to the contrary, the testimony and evidence

sufficiently supported the circuit court's findings, and the

court of appeals was required to give deference to the circuit

court's reasonable inferences and factual findings. Id., ¶11.
The court of appeals also concluded that a doctor did not have

to "iterate the specific words of the statute in order for the

evidence to be sufficient." Id. Finally, the court of appeals

rejected Melanie's argument that the circuit court based its

decision on the fact that Melanie had a mental illness. Id.,

¶13.

¶36 Melanie petitioned this court for review, which we

granted on November 14, 2012.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶37 Melanie contends the County failed to meet its burden

of proving that she was incompetent to refuse medication under

Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b. The County bears the burden of

proving Melanie incompetent to refuse medication by clear and

convincing evidence. Wis. Stat. § 51.20(13)(e); Virgil D., 189

Wis. 2d at 12 n.7.
17
No. 2012AP99

¶38 We will not disturb a circuit court's factual findings

unless they are clearly erroneous. K.N.K. v. Buhler, 139

Wis. 2d 190, 198, 407 N.W.2d 281 (Ct. App. 1987). We accept

reasonable inferences from the facts available to the circuit

court. K.S. v. Winnebago Cnty., 147 Wis. 2d 575, 578, 433

N.W.2d 291 (Ct. App. 1988).

¶39 In evaluating whether the County met its burden of

proof, a court must apply facts to the statutory standard in

Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b. and interpret the statute.

Applying facts to the standard and interpreting the statute are

questions of law that this court reviews independently. Estate
of Genrich v. OHIC Ins. Co., 2009 WI 67, ¶10, 318 Wis. 2d 553,

769 N.W.2d 481 (citation omitted).

III. DISCUSSION

¶40 This case requires the court to interpret a statutory

provision——Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b.——that has heretofore

evaded review in this court. Interpretation of a statute

"begins with the language of the statute. If the meaning of the

statute is plain, we ordinarily stop the inquiry. Statutory

language is given its common, ordinary, and accepted meaning."

State ex rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court for Dane Cnty., 2004 WI 58,

¶45, 271 Wis. 2d 633, 681 N.W.2d 110 (internal quotation marks

and citations omitted). Ascertaining the plain meaning of a

statute often requires considering a statute's scope, context,

and purpose——based upon the text and structure of the statute——

to avoid unreasonable or absurd results. Id., ¶¶46, 48.

18
No. 2012AP99

Legislative history may be relevant to confirm a statute's plain

meaning. Id., ¶51.

¶41 Before interpreting Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b. and

applying the facts of this case to the statute, we review the

development of the law on involuntary medication orders, both in

the United States Supreme Court and in Wisconsin. Next, we

examine the evolution of the involuntary medication statute and

interpret the provision at issue in this case, phrase by phrase.

Finally, we apply the facts of Melanie's case to the statute and

conclude that the County failed to prove by clear and convincing

evidence that Melanie was incompetent to refuse medication.

A. Development of Wisconsin's Competency Standard for Refusing

Involuntary Medication

¶42 An individual's right to refuse unwanted medical

treatment "emanates from the common law right of self-

determination and informed consent, the personal liberties

protected by the Fourteenth Amendment, and from the guarantee of

liberty in Article I, [S]ection 1 of the Wisconsin

Constitution." Lenz v. L.E. Phillips Career Dev. Ctr., 167
Wis. 2d 53, 67, 482 N.W.2d 60 (1992); see also Cruzan v. Dir.,

Mo. Dep't of Health, 497 U.S. 261, 278 (1990) (competent

individuals have a protected Fourteenth Amendment liberty

interest in refusing unwanted medical treatment).15

15
We do not read these cases as deciding that a minor has a
constitutionally protected liberty interest in refusing unwanted
medical treatment, irrespective of the consequences. Cf. Parham
v. J.R., 442 U.S. 584, 600 (1979)).

19
No. 2012AP99

¶43 Competent individuals also retain a "'significant'

liberty interest in avoiding forced medication of psychotropic

drugs."16 State v. Wood, 2010 WI 17, ¶25, 323 Wis. 2d 321, 780

N.W.2d 63 (citing Washington v. Harper, 494 U.S. 210, 221

(1990)). "The forcible injection of medication into a

nonconsenting person's body represents a substantial

interference with that person's liberty."17 Harper, 494 U.S. at

229. However, while a patient has "an interest in remaining

free from bodily intrusion," the state has an interest in

administering treatment to a patient pursuant to a commitment

order. Mary C. McCarron, Comment, The Right to Refuse
Antipsychotic Drugs: Safeguarding the Mentally Incompetent

Patient's Right to Procedural Due Process, 73 Marq. L. Rev. 477,

484 (1990) (footnote omitted). Current mental health statutes

16
Psychotropic is defined as "[a]ffecting the psyche;
denoting, specifically, drugs used in the treatment of mental
illnesses." Stedman's Medical Dictionary 1167 (24th ed. 1982).
17
Persons opposed to the involuntary administration of
psychotropic medication argue that these drugs have "serious,
even fatal, side effects." Washington v. Harper, 494 U.S. 210,
229 (1990); see also State ex rel. Jones v. Gerhardstein, 141
Wis. 2d 710, 727, 416 N.W.2d 883 (1987) (listing some of the
most common side effects). Persons who resist forced medication
and other critics also contend that they have a right to be free
from government intrusion directly upon the mind. See generally
Stephan Beyer, Comment, Madness and Medicine: The Forcible
Administration of Psychotropic Drugs, 1980 Wis. L. Rev. 497.
For a more recent description of psychotropic medications and
their potential side effects, see National Institute of Mental
Health, Mental Health Medications, U.S. Dep't of Health & Human
Servs. (2012),
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-
medications-/mentalhealthmedications_ln.pdf.

20
No. 2012AP99

reflect a balance between treating mental illness and protecting

the individual and society from danger on the one hand, and

personal liberty of the individual on the other.18

¶44 Wisconsin's modern mental health statutes originated

in Chapter 430, Laws of 1975, also known as the 1976 Mental

Health Act.19 The competency standard for refusing medication

was first articulated in 1978. § 98, ch. 428, Laws of 1977; see

also Virgil D., 189 Wis. 2d at 11 n.6. The standard initially

read:

(g) Prior to the final commitment hearing and
court commitment orders, [the patient shall] have the
right to refuse all medication . . . except as ordered
by the court under this paragraph, or in a situation
where such medication or treatment is necessary to
prevent serious physical harm to the patient or to
others. . . . An individual is not competent to
refuse medication if because of mental illness,
developmental disability, alcoholism or drug
dependence, the individual is incapable of expressing
an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages
of accepting treatment, and the alternatives to
accepting the particular treatment offered, after the
advantages, disadvantages and alternatives have been
explained to the individual.
Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g) (1977–78). Initially, only persons

detained pending a final commitment hearing could exercise

18
Peter D. Keane, Case Comment, The Use of the Clear and
Convincing Evidence Standard in Civil Commitment Proceedings
Pursuant to the Adam Walsh Act Does Not Violate Due Process——
United States v. Comstock, 627 F.3d 513 (4th Cir. 2010), 7 J.
Health & Biomedical L. 667, 670 (2012).
19
Steven K. Erickson, Michael J. Vitacco, & Gregory J. Van
Rybroek, Beyond Overt Violence: Wisconsin's Progressive Civil
Commitment Statute as a Marker of a New Era in Mental Health
Law, 89 Marq. L. Rev. 359, 367 (2005).

21
No. 2012AP99

informed consent to refuse medication. See id. Thus, prior to

1987, involuntarily committed persons in Wisconsin——even if

competent——did not have the statutory right to refuse

medication. See id.; see also Virgil D., 189 Wis. 2d at 11 n.6.

¶45 In State ex rel. Jones v. Gerhardstein, this court

held that the competency standard to refuse medication in Wis.

Stat. § 51.61(1)(g) (1985–86) violated equal protection as

guaranteed by the United States and Wisconsin Constitutions.

Jones, 141 Wis. 2d 710, 734, 416 N.W.2d 883 (1987). The Jones
court concluded that no rational basis existed for the statutory

distinction between those awaiting commitment and those subject

to a final commitment order. Id. at 737. The court also

concluded that "the patient through informed consent makes the

choices of bodily treatment," id. at 739, and that a presumption

of competence to choose must apply to all individuals regardless

of commitment status. Id. at 737, 739. The court further

emphasized that involuntary commitment cannot be equated to a

finding of incompetence because "the concepts of mental illness

and competency are not synonymous. An individual may be

psychotic, yet nevertheless capable of evaluating the advantages

and disadvantages of taking psychotropic drugs and making an

informed decision."20 Id. at 728.

20
For an analysis of the State ex rel. Jones v.
Gerhardstein decision and its impact on institutional practice,
see Delila M.J. Ledwith, Note, Jones v. Gerhardstein: The
Involuntarily Committed Mental Patient's Right to Refuse
Treatment with Psychotropic Drugs, 1990 Wis. L. Rev. 1367.

22
No. 2012AP99

¶46 As a result of Jones, the legislature amended Wis.

Stat. § 51.61(1)(g) and created subd. 4. 1987 Wis. Act 366,

§ 18. The new competency standard was stated as follows:

(g) [Patients shall h]ave the following rights,
under the following procedures, to refuse medication
and treatment:

1. Have the right to refuse all medication
and treatment except as ordered by the court
under subd. 2, or in a situation in which the
medication or treatment is necessary to prevent
serious physical harm to the patient or to
others.

. . . .

4. For purposes of a determination [prior
to or following a final commitment order,] an
individual is not competent to refuse medication
if, because of mental illness, developmental
disability, alcoholism or drug dependence, the
individual is incapable of expressing an
understanding of the advantages and disadvantages
of accepting treatment, and the alternatives to
accepting the particular treatment offered, after
the advantages, disadvantages and alternatives
have been explained to the individual.
Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)1. & 4. (1987–88). This standard of

competency to refuse medication applied to persons detained

pending a final commitment hearing and persons subject to a

final commitment order. At that time the sole standard to prove

incompetency was whether the individual was "incapable of

expressing an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages"
of, and alternatives to, accepting the particular medication or

treatment. Id. (emphasis added).

¶47 Seven years later in Virgil D., this court confirmed

that the standard in then-Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4. provided

23
No. 2012AP99

only one method by which an individual could be proven

incompetent to refuse medication. Virgil D., 189 Wis. 2d at 5.

In that case, Rock County sought an order to authorize the

involuntary administration of medication for Virgil D. Id. at

7. The examining psychiatrist reported that while Virgil D. was

able to express an understanding of the advantages and

disadvantages of treatment, he was incompetent to refuse

medication because he lacked insight into his mental illness and

thus could not exercise informed consent. Id. The circuit
court granted Rock County's petition for involuntary medication

and the court of appeals affirmed. Id. at 8.

¶48 Reversing the decision on review, this court held that

the interpretation adopted by the lower courts disregarded the

plain language of the statute. The Virgil D. court concluded

that § 51.61(1)(g)4. provided only one standard by which to

prove an individual incompetent to refuse medication. Id. at

11. The court concluded that the circuit court and the court of

appeals "erred when they ignored the statutory standard and

placed greater emphasis on the psychiatrists' testimony that

Virgil was not competent to refuse medication because he did not

have an appreciation of his own mental illness." Id. at 13

(footnote omitted). This court said that by reading the

provision as illustrative rather than exclusive, the two courts

altered the test for competency and changed the meaning of the

statute. Id. at 9.

¶49 The Virgil D. court also affirmed the conclusion in

Jones that "[w]hen a circuit court is asked to determine a
24
No. 2012AP99

patient's competency to refuse medication or treatment pursuant

to § 51.61(1)(g)4[.], Stats., it must presume that the patient

is competent to make that decision." Id. at 14 (citation

omitted).

¶50 Furthermore, the Virgil D. court concluded that——in

determining whether the evidence shows a person understands the

advantages, disadvantages, and alternatives to a particular

medication——a circuit court should "take into account" the

following five factors:

(a) Whether the patient is able to identify the
type of recommended medication or treatment;

(b) whether the patient has previously received
the type of medication or treatment at issue;

(c) if the patient has received similar
treatment in the past, whether he or she can describe
what happened as a result and how the effects were
beneficial or harmful;

(d) if the patient has not been similarly
treated in the past, whether he or she can identify
the risks and benefits associated with the recommended
medication or treatment; and

(e) whether the patient holds any patently false
beliefs about the recommended medication or treatment
which would prevent an understanding of legitimate
risks and benefits.
Id. at 14–15.
¶51 Finally, the Virgil D. court reminded circuit courts

that they

must maintain the distinction that this court
recognized in Jones between a patient's mental illness
and his or her ability to exercise informed consent.
The focus of a hearing on the patient's right to
exercise informed consent should not be upon whether

25
No. 2012AP99

the court, the psychiatrist or the County believes the
patient's decision is the wrong choice. Rather, the
focus must be upon whether the patient understands the
implications of the recommended medication or
treatment and is making an informed choice.
Id. at 15 (citation omitted).

¶52 After the Virgil D. decision, the legislature

responded to the ruling by modifying the statute. 1995 Wis. Act

268, § 2 created a second, alternative standard in Wis. Stat.

§ 51.61(1)(g)4. for competency to refuse medication. This

alternative standard read: "The individual is substantially

incapable of applying an understanding of the advantages,

disadvantages and alternatives to his or her mental illness,

developmental disability, alcoholism or drug dependence in order

to make an informed choice as to whether to accept or refuse

medication or treatment." 1995 Wis. Act 268, § 2 (emphasis

added). Both standards are now part of Wisconsin law.

B. The Current Competency Standard for Refusing

Involuntary Medication

¶53 In sum, under Wis. Stat. § 51.61, a person has the
right to refuse medication unless a court determines that the

person is incompetent to make such a decision. The competency

standard in Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4. reads:

4. For purposes of a determination under subd.
2. or 3., an individual is not competent to refuse
medication or treatment if, because of mental illness,
developmental disability, alcoholism or drug
dependence, and after the advantages and disadvantages
of and alternatives to accepting the particular
medication or treatment have been explained to the
individual, one of the following is true:

26
No. 2012AP99

a. The individual is incapable of
expressing an understanding of the advantages and
disadvantages of accepting medication or
treatment and the alternatives.

b. The individual is substantially
incapable of applying an understanding of the
advantages, disadvantages and alternatives to his
or her mental illness, developmental disability,
alcoholism or drug dependence in order to make an
informed choice as to whether to accept or refuse
medication or treatment.
Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.

¶54 There are thus two ways under Wis. Stat.
§ 51.61(1)(g)4. that a person who is mentally ill and who has

received the requisite explanation of the advantages and

disadvantages of and alternatives to medication may be found

incompetent to refuse such medication. Under subd. 4., subd.

para. a., the county petitioner may prove by clear and

convincing evidence that the individual is incapable of

expressing an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages

of accepting the prescribed medication, and the alternatives.

This is a difficult standard for a county to meet if the

individual is able to express a reasonable understanding of the

medication. Virgil D., 189 Wis. 2d at 14. That is why the

legislature crafted a somewhat relaxed standard in subd. 4.,

subd. para. b.
¶55 Under the second standard, the county petitioner may

prove by clear and convincing evidence that the individual is
substantially incapable of applying the understanding he or she

has of the advantages and disadvantages of the medication (and

the alternatives) to his or her mental illness in order to make

27
No. 2012AP99

an informed choice as to whether to accept or refuse the

medication.

¶56 In this case, the County's expert, Dr. Dave, and the

circuit court recognized that Melanie was able to express an

understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of medication.

Therefore, the entire focus was and is on the competency

standard in 4.b. This court is required to examine what the

statute means by "substantially incapable" of "applying an

understanding" to "her mental illness" "in order to make an

informed choice" "as to whether to accept or refuse medication."

¶57 Normally a court begins with the plain language of the

statute and gives the words their common and ordinary meaning.

Kalal, 271 Wis. 2d 633, ¶45. Here we will begin by putting the

statute in statutory context.

¶58 Wisconsin Stat. ch. 51 is the statutory chapter

dealing with alcohol, drug abuse, developmental disabilities,

and mental health. The legislative policy set out in Wis. Stat.

§ 51.001 paints with a broad brush, reading in part that, "[i]t

is the policy of the state to assure the provision of a full

range of treatment and rehabilitation services in the state for

all mental disorders . . . and for mental illness . . . ." The

section speaks generally of the "least restrictive treatment

alternative." Wis. Stat. § 51.001(1). Then it adds: "To

protect personal liberties, no person who can be treated

adequately outside of a hospital, institution or other inpatient

facility may be involuntarily treated in such a facility." Wis.

Stat. § 51.001(2). Hence, from the first section of the
28
No. 2012AP99

chapter, we see the tension between the role of the government

to provide caring treatment (sometimes involuntarily and, if

necessary, by force) and the personal liberty of the individual.

¶59 Wisconsin Stat. § 51.15 deals with emergency

detention, and § 51.20 deals with involuntary commitment for

treatment. Section 51.61, by contrast, is entitled "Patients

rights." The provision to be interpreted in this case is

contained in the "Patients rights" section of the chapter.

¶60 In this case, there is no dispute that Melanie is

afflicted with "mental illness" and no disagreement that she was

properly committed to the County for outpatient care and

custody. She was found to be mentally ill, dangerous because

she evidenced behavior within one or more of the standards under

Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1) or (1m) (but not § 51.20(1)(a)2.e.), and

a proper subject for outpatient treatment. Consequently, the

issue before us relates to the control that the County has over

Melanie with respect to psychotropic medication during her

outpatient commitment.
¶61 The court's commitment order in February and its order

on August 17, 2011, make clear that Melanie was not committed
under the so-called "Fifth Standard" in Wis. Stat.

§ 51.20(1)(a)2.e. This is significant because Wis. Stat.
§ 51.61(1)(g)3m. reads: "Following a final commitment order for

a subject individual who is determined to meet the commitment
standard under s. 51.20(1)(a)2.e., the court shall issue an

order permitting medication or treatment to be administered to

the individual regardless of his or her consent." (Emphasis
29
No. 2012AP99

added.) In other words, subd. 3m., which immediately precedes

subd. 4., is not governed by the competency standards in subd.

4.

¶62 Subdivision 3m. is not governed by subd. 4. because

the Fifth Standard——Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1)(a)2.e.21——contains many

21
Wisconsin Stat. § 51.20(1)(a)2.e. reads:

30
No. 2012AP99

of the same provisions found in Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b.;

and to commit a person under the Fifth Standard, the government

must prove these provisions by clear and convincing evidence.

For an individual, other than an individual who is alleged
to be drug dependent or developmentally disabled, after the
advantages and disadvantages of and alternatives to accepting a
particular medication or treatment have been explained to him or
her and because of mental illness, evidences either incapability
of expressing an understanding of the advantages and
disadvantages of accepting medication or treatment and the
alternatives, or substantial incapability of applying an
understanding of the advantages, disadvantages, and alternatives
to his or her mental illness in order to make an informed choice
as to whether to accept or refuse medication or treatment; and
evidences a substantial probability, as demonstrated by both the
individual's treatment history and his or her recent acts or
omissions, that the individual needs care or treatment to
prevent further disability or deterioration and a substantial
probability that he or she will, if left untreated, lack
services necessary for his or her health or safety and suffer
severe mental, emotional, or physical harm that will result in
the loss of the individual's ability to function independently
in the community or the loss of cognitive or volitional control
over his or her thoughts or actions. The probability of
suffering severe mental, emotional, or physical harm is not
substantial under this subd. 2.e. if reasonable provision for
the individual's care or treatment is available in the community
and there is a reasonable probability that the individual will
avail himself or herself of these services or if the individual
may be provided protective placement or protective services
under ch. 55. Food, shelter, or other care that is provided to
an individual who is substantially incapable of obtaining food,
shelter, or other care for himself or herself by any person
other than a treatment facility does not constitute reasonable
provision for the individual's care or treatment in the
community under this subd. 2.e. The individual's status as a
minor does not automatically establish a substantial probability
of suffering severe mental, emotional, or physical harm under
this subd. 2.e.

31
No. 2012AP99

¶63 The overlapping language from the two statutes may be

illustrated as follows:

Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1)(a)2.e. Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b.
1. and because of mental 1. because of mental illness
illness
2. after the advantages and 2. after the advantages and
disadvantages of and disadvantages of and
alternatives to accepting a alternatives to accepting the
particular medication or particular medication or
treatment have been explained treatment have been explained
to him or her to the individual
3. evidences . . . substantial 3. the individual is
incapability substantially incapable
4. of applying an understanding 4. of applying an understanding
of the advantages, of the advantages,
disadvantages, and alternatives disadvantages and alternatives
to his or her mental illness to his or her mental illness
5. in order to make an informed 5. in order to make an informed
choice choice
6. whether to accept or refuse 6. whether to accept or refuse
medication or treatment medication or treatment
¶64 The obvious similarity of the language in the two

sections and the fact that they were adopted by the legislature

at almost the same time in 199622 indicate that the

interpretation of one section is likely to affect the

interpretation of the other. While the constitutionality of
Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1)(a)2.e. was upheld in State v. Dennis H.,

2002 WI 104, 255 Wis. 2d 359, 647 N.W.2d 851, there has been no

detailed interpretation of the statutory language in either

22
Separate bills creating Wis. Stat. §§ 51.20(1)(a)2.e. and
51.61(1)(g)4.b., respectively, proceeded along similar tracks
and were enacted into law almost concurrently. 1995 Senate Bill
270, which created the Fifth Standard of dangerousness in
§ 51.20(1)(a)2.e., was enacted as 1995 Wis. Act 292 on April 25,
1996. 1995 Senate Bill 119, which created the 4.b. standard of
competency for refusing medication, was enacted as 1995 Wis. Act
268 on April 22, 1996.

32
No. 2012AP99

provision. Therefore, we will proceed to discuss the language

in Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b. phrase by phrase.

1. "because of mental illness"

¶65 Mental illness is a defined term in Wis. Stat. ch. 51:

(13) (a) "Mental illness" means mental disease to
such extent that a person so afflicted requires care
and treatment for his or her own welfare, or the
welfare of others, or of the community.

(b) "Mental illness", for purposes of involuntary
commitment, means a substantial disorder of thought,
mood, perception, orientation, or memory which grossly
impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize
reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of
life, but does not include alcoholism.

Wis. Stat. § 51.01(13).
¶66 Thus, the phrase "because of mental illness" means

because of a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception,

orientation, or memory which grossly impairs judgment, behavior,

capacity to recognize reality, or meet the ordinary demands of

life.

2. "after the advantages and disadvantages of and

alternatives to accepting a particular medication

or treatment have been explained [to the person]"

¶67 This language is largely self-explanatory. A person

subject to a possible mental commitment or a possible

involuntary medication order is entitled to receive from one or

more medical professionals a reasonable explanation of proposed

medication. The explanation should include why a particular

drug is being prescribed, what the advantages of the drug are

expected to be, what side effects may be anticipated or are

33
No. 2012AP99

possible, and whether there are reasonable alternatives to the

prescribed medication. The explanation should be timely, and,

ideally, it should be periodically repeated and reinforced.

Medical professionals and other professionals should document

the timing and frequency of their explanations so that, if

necessary, they have documentary evidence to help establish this

element in court.

3. "the individual is substantially incapable"

¶68 Wisconsin Stat. §§ 51.20(1)(a)2.e. and 51.61(1)(g)4.a.

use the words "incapability" and "incapable," without any

modifier, before the phrase "expressing an understanding of the

advantages and disadvantages of accepting medication." By

contrast, some form of the word "substantial" modifies

"incapability" or "incapable" in the language we seek to

interpret related to "applying an understanding."

¶69 "Incapable" means "[l]acking the necessary ability,

capacity, or power" to do something or the inability "to perform

adequately." The American Heritage Dictionary of the English

Language 911 (3d ed. 1992). The word "incompetent" is one of

the words that shows up in the definition of "incapable." Id.

Hence, in the context of Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.a., a person

is "incapable" if, for all practical purposes, the person simply

cannot express the advantages and disadvantages of a medication

or treatment. This standard is quite rigorous for the county in

terms of proof.

¶70 "Substantially incapable" is a less rigorous standard.

"Substantial" means "[c]onsiderable in . . . degree . . . or
34
No. 2012AP99

extent." Id. at 1791. Thus, the phrase "substantially

incapable" means, to a considerable degree, a person lacks the

ability or capacity to apply an understanding of the advantages

and disadvantages of medication to his or her own condition.

4. "applying an understanding of the advantages,

disadvantages and alternatives [of the medication

or treatment] to his or her mental illness"

¶71 "Apply" means to "make use of as suitable, fitting, or

relevant." Webster's Third New International Dictionary 105
(3d. ed. 1986); see also Random House Unabridged Dictionary 102

(2d. ed. 1993). Using this definition, "applying an

understanding" requires a person to make use of his or her

understanding for his or her condition. Put another way,

"applying an understanding" requires a person to make a

connection between an expressed understanding of the benefits

and risks of medication and the person's own mental illness.

¶72 Melanie argues that the ability to recognize one's own

mental illness is sufficient to show that one can apply an

understanding of the advantages, disadvantages, and alternatives

to his or her mental illness. We disagree. It may be true that

if a person cannot recognize that he or she has a mental

illness, logically the person cannot establish a connection

between his or her expressed understanding of the benefits and

risks of medication and the person's own illness. However, a

person's acknowledgment that he or she has a "mental health

issue" may not acknowledge the actual problem, or may simply

articulate what doctors and courts want to hear. It is possible
35
No. 2012AP99

to conjure up other hypotheticals that would nullify temporary

"recognition" of the problem.

¶73 Dr. Robert L. Beilman, testifying for the Alliance of

the Mentally Ill of Wisconsin at the Assembly Judiciary

Committee's hearing on 1995 Senate Bill 119, which created Wis.

Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b., pointedly criticized the single

standard discussed in Virgil D.:

Under current law, a committed person with a
serious mental illness may rattle off a list of
medications as requested and actually appear quite
competent to someone who is not experienced in dealing
with persons with serious mental illness.

Ask any [Alliance of the Mentally Ill] family and
they will all tell you how an ill family member is
able to pull him/herself together for a good 20-30
minutes and appear quite articulate and competent when
appearing at a hearing or a meeting or an appointment.
The illogical, delusional, paranoid behavior is put on
a back burner somewhere in that very complex organ,
the brain. By appearing articulate, due to an ability
to memorize a list of psychotropic medications, a
judge may very easily be fooled into thinking the
person is competent.
Hearing on 1995 S.B. 119 Before the A. Comm. on Judiciary, 1995

Leg., 92nd Sess. 1 (Wis. 1995) (statement of Dr. Robert L.
Beilman, Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Wis.) (on file with

Wis. Legis. Council).
¶74 The import of Dr. Beilman's testimony here is that a

person with a serious mental illness may be able to acknowledge
"issues" and rattle off side effects without being truly able to

apply his or her "understanding" to the person's own problem.

36
No. 2012AP99

¶75 Inasmuch as the subject of a commitment hearing cannot

be forced to testify, it is the responsibility of medical

experts who appear as witnesses for the county to explain how

they probed the issue of whether the person can "apply" his or

her understanding to his or her own mental condition. The

person's history of noncompliance in taking prescribed

medication is clearly relevant, but it is not determinative if

the person can reasonably explain the reason for the

noncompliance. For both the patient and the medical

professional, facts and reasoning are nearly as important as

conclusions.

5. "in order to make an informed choice"

¶76 "Informed choice" means a choice based on an informed

understanding of the viable options with respect to medication

or treatment. The key word in the statutory phrase is "choice,"

which means the "power, right, or liberty to choose," or an

"option." The American Heritage Dictionary of the English

Language 336 (3d ed. 1992). The paragraph seeks to evaluate a

person's ability to rationally choose an option.

6. "whether to accept or refuse medication

or treatment"

¶77 This language specifies the options that a person may

choose. It reinforces the word "choice."

¶78 The plain language of the statute gives a person the

right "to refuse medication or treatment," provided the patient

is competent to make that choice. Consequently, the court's

determination should not turn on the person's choice to refuse
37
No. 2012AP99

to take medication; it should turn on the person's ability to

process and apply the information available to the person's own

condition before making that choice.

C. Application of the Law

¶79 The County moved to dismiss Melanie's case after this

court accepted the petition for review but before oral argument,

on grounds that Melanie's case is moot. Her involuntary

medication order expired one year after the order was issued on

August 17, 2011, and there is no evidence that the County sought

to extend it.

¶80 As a general rule, this court "will not consider a

question the answer to which cannot have any practical effect

upon an existing controversy." State v. Leitner, 2002 WI 77,

¶13, 253 Wis. 2d 449, 646 N.W.2d 341 (quoting State ex rel. La

Crosse Tribune v. Circuit Court for La Crosse Cnty., 115

Wis. 2d 220, 228, 340 N.W.2d 460 (1983)). However, a reviewing

court may decide moot issues under certain circumstances. State

v. Morford, 2004 WI 5, ¶7, 268 Wis. 2d 300, 674 N.W.2d 349.

This court may decide an otherwise moot issue if the issue:

(1) is of great public importance; (2) occurs so
frequently that a definitive decision is necessary to
guide circuit courts; (3) is likely to arise again and
a decision of the court would alleviate uncertainty;
or (4) will likely be repeated, but evades appellate
review because the appellate review process cannot be
completed or even undertaken in time to have a
practical effect on the parties.
Id. (footnote omitted). We conclude that the 4.b. competency

standard presents an issue of great public importance and is

38
No. 2012AP99

likely to arise in future cases. Moreover, interpreting the

4.b. competency standard is likely to evade appellate review in

many instances because the order appealed from will have expired

before an appeal is completed. Therefore, we will exercise our

discretion and take up the issues that Melanie asks this court

to review.23

¶81 On the facts, this is a close case. We appreciate

that a circuit court's findings of fact are entitled to

deference and should not be disturbed unless they are clearly

erroneous. K.N.K., 139 Wis. 2d at 198.24

¶82 Nonetheless, the reason the court took this

technically moot case was to interpret and clarify the law. In

these circumstances, the court should not approve a commitment

proceeding that reveals clear deficiencies. Consequently, we

reverse.

¶83 It is undisputed that the County was required to prove

all elements of its case by clear and convincing evidence. Wis.

Stat. § 51.20(13)(e); Virgil D., 189 Wis. 2d at 12 n.7.

¶84 As the Supreme Court explained in Cruzan:

23
We noted that Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b. was adopted in
1996 at the same time the legislature adopted the Fifth Standard
in Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1)(a)2.e. See supra, ¶64. We also noted
that Wis. Stat. § 51.60(1)(g)4.b. has evaded detailed review
since its adoption. See supra, ¶40. This case presents
questions of statutory interpretation that are ripe for judicial
review, and interpretation of Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b.
implicates the interpretation of Wis. Stat. § 51.20(1)(a)2.e.
24
The fact that the County did not seek to extend Melanie's
commitment can be argued by both sides as vindication of their
positions.

39
No. 2012AP99

"The function of a standard of proof, as that concept
is embodied in the Due Process Clause and in the realm
of factfinding, is to 'instruct the factfinder
concerning the degree of confidence our society thinks
he should have in the correctness of factual
conclusions for a particular type of adjudication.'"
Addington v. Texas, 441 U.S. 418, 423 (1979) (quoting
In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 370 (1970) (Harlan, J.,
concurring)). "This Court has mandated an
intermediate standard of proof——'clear and convincing
evidence'——when the individual interests at stake in a
state proceeding are both 'particularly important' and
'more substantial than mere loss of money.'" Santosky
v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 756 (1982) (quoting
Addington, supra, at 424).
Cruzan, 497 U.S. at 282.

¶85 The standard of proof reflects not only the importance

of a particular adjudication but also serves as a societal

judgment about how the risk of error should be distributed

between the litigants. Id. at 283 (citations omitted).

¶86 In this case, the circuit court said:

[I]t's the court's conclusion that while able to
understand and appreciate and articulate advantages
and disadvantages, [Melanie] is a person that by the
clear greater weight of the evidence is not one who
can reliably apply an understanding of the advantages
and disadvantages, the advantages of taking or the
disadvantages of not taking psychotropic medications
to her present circumstance.

(Emphasis added.)
¶87 We acknowledge that the court may have intended to use

the clear and convincing evidence standard and that Melanie's

counsel did not object to the standard used. Were this case not

moot, this court could likely remand it to the circuit court for

further consideration.

40
No. 2012AP99

¶88 Yet the court is disinclined to rationalize the error

because the court is not convinced that the County met its

burden of proof by clear and convincing evidence.25

¶89 As noted previously, the Supreme Court has held that

"a competent individual has a protected Fourteenth Amendment

liberty interest in refusing unwanted medical treatment." Lenz,

167 Wis. 2d at 68–69 (citing Cruzan, 497 U.S. at 278).

Moreover, an individual is presumed competent to refuse

medication or treatment. Virgil D., 189 Wis. 2d at 14.

25
A court's misstatement of the burden of proof is
analogous to an erroneous jury instruction.

Whether a party has met its burden of proof is a question
of law that an appellate court reviews de novo. Brandt v.
Brandt, 145 Wis. 2d 394, 409, 427 N.W.2d 126 (Ct. App. 1990).
If a party must prove its case by clear and convincing evidence,
"[a] mere preponderance of the evidence is not sufficient."
Seraphine v. Hardiman, 44 Wis. 2d 60, 65, 170 N.W.2d 739 (1969).
This is particularly true when the burden of proof has due
process implications. Cruzan v. Dir., Mo. Dep't of Health, 497
U.S. 261, 282 (1990).

A reviewing court will not reverse a jury instruction if it
generally states the law correctly. Young v. Prof'ls Ins. Co.,
154 Wis. 2d 742, 746, 454 N.W.2d 24 (Ct. App. 1990) (citing
White v. Leeder, 149 Wis. 2d 948, 954, 440 N.W.2d 557, 559
(1989)). However, if "the instruction is erroneous and probably
misleads the jury," a reviewing court will reverse because the
misstatement constitutes prejudicial error. Id. (citing Leahy
v. Kenosha Mem'l Hosp., 118 Wis. 2d 441, 452, 348 N.W.2d 607,
613 (Ct. App. 1984)) (emphasis added). An erroneous instruction
warrants a new trial if the instruction is prejudicial. Id.
(citing Hale v. Stoughton Hosp. Ass'n, 126 Wis. 2d 267, 278, 376
N.W.2d 89, 95 (Ct. App. 1985)). An errant jury instruction is
prejudicial if (1) it probably misled the jury or (2) was an
incorrect statement of the law. Fischer v. Ganju, 168
Wis. 2d 834, 849-50, 485 N.W.2d 10 (1992) (emphasis added).

41
No. 2012AP99

¶90 The circuit court candidly admitted that "[t]here may

be differing [inferences] that might be drawn from the

uncontested testimony . . . from Ms. Siebers and Dr. Dave." The

witnesses and the court repeatedly acknowledged that Melanie was

able to express an understanding of the advantages and

disadvantages of the prescribed medication and that she was

mostly "compliant" with her treatment conditions. Melanie did

not challenge the extension of her commitment, which implies

that she recognized a problem. She was allegedly able to

persuade Dr. Ambas to change her medication. If available, the

evidence of unexplained noncompliance and problems resulting

from that noncompliance should have been more clearly and

effectively presented in the record than they were.26

¶91 Melanie makes much of Dr. Dave's failure to answer

questions using the terms in the statute: e.g., Melanie was

incapable of applying an understanding of the medication "to her

advantage." The corporation counsel posed a question to Dr.

Dave employing the statutory terms. When he did not receive an

answer in those terms, he should have required his witness to
expound upon his answer, so that the circuit court and a

26
To illustrate, the July 15 letter to the Register in
Probate, signed by Dr. Ambas and Siebers, contains a single
sentence on involuntary medication: "We also recommend a court
order for Melanie to receive medications due to her limited
insight on the need for such medications." This letter is dated
four days before Melanie's scheduled meeting with Dr. Ambas and
four days before Dr. Ambas allegedly took Melanie's advice and
changed Melanie's prescription to Seroquel. Dr. Ambas did not
appear as a witness for the County.

42
No. 2012AP99

reviewing court did not have to speculate upon Dr. Dave's

meaning. As the record stands, we cannot be certain whether Dr.

Dave was applying the standard or changing the standard.

¶92 We suspect that Siebers and Dr. Dave were influenced

in part by the frustration that must have arisen from Melanie's

unwillingness to cooperate and comply during her commitment as

fully as they expected and believed she should. She violated

some of the conditions attached to the court's order. She

engaged another doctor without clearance from the County.

¶93 The dilemma facing the professionals was summed up

insightfully in the nonparty brief of Disability Rights

Wisconsin:

In the case where a commitment is to an outpatient
community setting and nothing in the record indicates
that there is any substantial treatment besides
medication, the commitment and involuntary medication
questions can easily blend together. The question
that might well be in the minds of the mental health
professional in this type of proceeding is:
what . . . good is an outpatient commitment order
unless I can enforce compliance with the sole
treatment modality?

This court cannot allow the involuntary
medication hearing to drift into an enforcement
mechanism for a doctor's order that [a] competent
patient disagrees with or ignores.27
¶94 Whatever the circumstances may be, the County bears

the burden of proof on the issue of competency in a hearing on

an involuntary medication order. These hearings cannot be

perfunctory under the law. Attention to detail is important. A

27
Cf. supra, ¶51.

43
No. 2012AP99

county cannot expect that a judge concerned about a person with

mental illness will automatically approve an involuntary

medication order, even though the person before the court has

chosen a course of action that the county disapproves. The

county, under Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b., must prove that the

person is substantially incapable of applying an understanding

of the advantages and disadvantages of particular medication to

her own mental illness. In our view, the County did not satisfy

its burden by clear and convincing evidence here. This court

does not have the option of revising the statute to make the

County's work or burden easier.

¶95 In this case, the result might have been different if

the County had produced additional evidence in terms of

additional witnesses or additional detail, and if it had more

carefully articulated its case.

IV. CONCLUSION

¶96 We reverse the court of appeals. The circuit court

misstated the burden of proof. In any event, the County failed
to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Melanie was

"substantially incapable of applying" an understanding of the
advantages, disadvantages, and alternatives of her prescribed

medication to her mental illness in order to make an informed
choice as to whether to accept or refuse the medication. The

County did not overcome Melanie's presumption of competence to
make an informed choice to refuse medication.

¶97 In particular, the medical expert's terminology and

recitation of facts did not sufficiently address and meet the
44
No. 2012AP99

statutory standard. Medical experts must apply the standards

set out in the competency statute. An expert's use of different

language to explain his or her conclusions should be linked back

to the standards in the statute. When a county disapproves of

the choices made by a person under an involuntary medication

order, it should make a detailed record of the person's

noncompliance in taking prescribed medication and show why the

noncompliance demonstrates the person's substantial incapability

of applying his or her understanding of the medication to his or

her mental illness.

¶98 By the Court.—The decision of the court of appeals is

reversed.

45
No. 2012AP99.akz

¶99 ANNETTE KINGSLAND ZIEGLER, J. (dissenting).

Although the majority undertakes a careful analysis of Wis.

Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b., I disagree with the majority's

application of that statute. I conclude that the evidence

presented was sufficient to support extending Melanie L.'s

involuntary medication order. I also dissent because the

majority does not properly abide by the standard of review and

defer to the circuit court's determinations. Instead of

searching the record for evidence to support the court's order,

the majority searches the record to do the opposite.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

¶100 In February 2011, the Outagamie County Circuit Court

ordered that Melanie L. (Melanie) be committed on an outpatient

basis and that she be medicated involuntarily. Under the

commitment order, Melanie was subject to a number of outpatient

treatment conditions.1

¶101 Before the orders expired, Outagamie County (the

County) petitioned to extend the commitment and involuntary

medication order for Melanie. On August 17, 2011, the circuit

court held a hearing on the petition.

1
Relevant to this case, Melanie was ordered to keep her
appointments with court-ordered examiners, take all doses of
prescribed psychotropic medications, and keep case management
advised of her current contact information. The initial
treatment plan developed by the County also stated that Melanie
"may not be involved in other forms of treatment unless approved
by her therapist at Human Services." See majority op., ¶¶20-21.

1
No. 2012AP99.akz

¶102 The court had before it testimony and a written letter

on Melanie's condition from Kate Siebers (Siebers), a clinical

therapist who served as Melanie's caseworker. The court also

had before it testimony and a written report on Melanie's

condition from Dr. Jagdish S. Dave (Dr. Dave), a clinical

psychiatrist who performed an independent evaluation of Melanie.

Both Siebers and Dr. Dave concluded that Melanie was incompetent

to refuse medication.

¶103 Siebers testified that Melanie was not compliant with

several terms of her outpatient treatment. On several

occasions, Melanie did not make appointments with her

psychiatrist or with Siebers, but she would do so only after

prompting from Siebers. Siebers also testified that Melanie

stopped taking medications without consulting Siebers or her

doctor. Further, Melanie stopped seeing her psychiatrist, and

instead, she sought out a different psychiatrist without

informing the County. According to Siebers, Melanie lacked

insight into her condition. Melanie's lack of follow-though in

the treatment indicated that Melanie did not believe medication

or treatment was necessary and did not understand the purpose of

the treatment.

¶104 Dr. Dave testified that Melanie had been diagnosed

with mental disorders that would cause her to have disturbed

thoughts and perceptions, delusions, and paranoid thinking. He

testified that Melanie had a history of taking medications for a

few weeks and then discontinuing them without consulting a

doctor. He testified that "she is not reliable for continuing

2
No. 2012AP99.akz

the treatment on a voluntary basis, and if she does not continue

recommended treatment, she would relapse, and she would end up

institutionalized." Dr. Dave concluded that Melanie was

incapable of "applying the benefits of the medication to her

advantage."

¶105 Melanie did not testify and the County's evidence went

uncontested. After hearing from the witnesses and reviewing the

documentary materials, the circuit court made findings of fact,

accepted the testimony and reports as credible, and applied the

correct legal standard when concluding that Melanie was

incompetent to refuse medication. Simply stated, the court

explained that while Melanie was able to understand the various

treatment options available, she was unable to apply her

understanding of those treatment options to her particular

mental condition. The court granted the County's petition to

extend Melanie's commitment, and signed an order stating that

Melanie was mentally ill and would be treated in an outpatient

facility. The court further granted the County's petition to

extend Melanie's involuntary medication order, and signed an

order stating that due to mental illness, Melanie "is

substantially incapable of applying an understanding of the

advantages, disadvantages and alternatives to [] her condition

in order to make an informed choice as to whether to accept or

3
No. 2012AP99.akz

refuse psychotropic medications." Melanie appealed only the

involuntary medication order.2

II. ANALYSIS

¶106 The factual findings of the circuit court, and all

reasonable inferences drawn from those findings shall not be

disturbed unless they are clearly erroneous. K.N.K. v. Buhler,

139 Wis. 2d 190, 198, 407 N.W.2d 281 (Ct. App. 1987); K.S. v.

Winnebago Cnty., 147 Wis. 2d 575, 578, 433 N.W.2d 291 (Ct. App.

1988).

¶107 As stated by the majority, Wis. Stat.

§ 51.61(1)(g)4.b. requires the County to prove that Melanie,

although possessing an understanding of the advantages and

disadvantages of different medications or treatments, is

"substantially incapable" of making the connection between that

understanding and her mental illness. Majority op., ¶56.

¶108 Here the circuit court held that "while [Melanie is]

able to understand and appreciate and articulate advantages and

2
While Melanie's appeal was pending, both the commitment
and the involuntary medication order expired. The majority
opinion addresses the issue presented, despite its mootness,
because the competency standard under Wis. Stat.
§ 51.61(1)(g)4.b. "presents an issue of great public importance"
and "is likely to evade appellate review." Majority op., ¶80.
Interestingly, another case heard by this court this term
concluded that it would be inappropriate to address a moot
question even though it "undoubtedly" presented a matter of
great public importance and was likely to recur yet evade
appellate review. Dane Cnty. v. Sheila W., 2013 WI 63, ¶7, __
Wis. 2d __, __N.W.2d __ (per curium). The majority does not
attempt to reconcile this disparate treatment, which will likely
leave practitioners and judges unsure of whether and how to
address moot questions when they present issues of great public
importance and are likely to recur yet evade review.

4
No. 2012AP99.akz

disadvantages, she is a person that by the clear greater weight

of the evidence is not one who can reliably apply [that]

understanding . . . to her present circumstances." This is

precisely the finding demanded by the statute.

¶109 The majority opinion acknowledges that the circuit

court's factual findings are entitled to deference and should

not be disturbed unless they are clearly erroneous. See

majority op., ¶81; K.N.K., 139 Wis. 2d at 198. This requirement

is statutory in a case such as this one, where the trial was to

the court and not to a jury: "Findings of fact shall not be set

aside unless clearly erroneous, and due regard shall be given to

the opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of

the witnesses." Wis. Stat. § 805.17(2). Curiously, the

majority opinion concludes that there was insufficient evidence

to support Melanie's incompetence to refuse medication, but the

majority does not conclude that the circuit court's factual

findings were clearly erroneous. In so doing, the majority

substitutes its judgment for that of the circuit court. Thus,

the majority violates the very rule it recites, one of due

deference to the factual findings of the circuit court.

¶110 In reversing, the majority opinion is concerned that

Dr. Dave's substitution of the phrase "to her advantage" for the

statutory phrase "to her condition" indicates that he was

treating the commitment and involuntary medication inquiries as

identical. Majority op., ¶¶91-93. But there is no requirement

that an expert witness use any "magic words" during his or her

testimony. For example, a medical expert's testimony regarding

5
No. 2012AP99.akz

the degree of certainty for a diagnosis can meet the standard

using a variety of phrases: "[T]here are '[n]o particular words

of art' that a medical expert must employ in relating his or her

opinion." Martindale v. Ripp, 2001 WI 113, ¶105, 246

Wis. 2d 67, 629 N.W.2d 698 (Wilcox, J., dissenting) (quoting

Drexler v. All Am. Life & Cas. Co., 72 Wis. 2d 420, 432, 241

N.W.2d 401 (1976)) (second bracket in original).

¶111 Here Dr. Dave did not use the precise language of Wis.

Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b. in his testimony, but his medical

opinion that Melanie was incompetent to refuse medication was

clear. There is no requirement that he recite the precise

language of the statute during his testimony.

¶112 In addition to Dr. Dave's testimony, the majority also

objects to the circuit court's statement of the burden of proof—

"clear greater weight of the evidence" rather than clear and

6
No. 2012AP99.akz

convincing evidence——when orally discussing its decision.3

Majority op., ¶¶85-87. The majority points to the court's

admission that "'[t]here may be differing [inferences] that

might be drawn from the uncontested testimony . . . from Ms.

Siebers and Dr. Dave'" as an indication that County failed to

prove Melanie was incompetent by clear and convincing evidence.

Majority op., ¶90.

¶113 The circuit court's use of "clear greater weight of

the evidence" should not lead to reversal.4 Whatever differing

inferences could possibly have been drawn from the evidence, it

is undisputed what inference was actually drawn by the circuit

3
The majority opinion analyzes this case as if it were a
jury trial. It was not. See majority op., ¶88 n.25 (discussing
that the circuit court's misstatement of the burden of proof was
analogous to an erroneous jury instruction). In this case, the
circuit court, not a jury, acted as the fact finder. On appeal,
the reviewing court has a duty to view the evidence in the light
most favorable to court's verdict. Wis. Stat. § 805.17(2);
Reuben v. Koppen, 2010 WI App 63, ¶19, 324 Wis. 2d 758, 784
N.W.2d 703. In other words, we search the record for evidence
to sustain the verdict. Id. In this case, the majority opinion
concludes that the circuit court's statement of the "clear
greater weight of the evidence" was an error. See majority op.,
¶88. To reach this determination, the majority opinion assumes
that the circuit court was unaware of the correct burden of
proof. However, the order of commitment, essentially the
verdict, signed by the circuit court specifically referenced
Wis. Stat. § 51.20(13), which sets forth the clear and
convincing burden of proof. Reviewing the record in the light
most favorable to the verdict, I conclude that the circuit court
applied the correct burden of proof.
4
It is not clear whether the majority opinion relies on the
circuit court's statement "clear greater weight of the evidence"
to support its reversal of the court of appeals. Majority op.,
¶¶87-88. To the extent that it does, it offers no support for
the contention that failing to recite the exact statutory
language of the burden of proof demands reversal.

7
No. 2012AP99.akz

court——Melanie lacked the competence to refuse medication by

clear and convincing evidence. The written order signed by the

circuit court clearly and precisely states that Melanie "is

substantially incapable of applying an understanding of the

advantages, disadvantages and alternatives to [] her condition

in order to make an informed choice as to whether to accept or

refuse psychotropic medications." Failure to verbally state the

exact standard is not reversible error. See State v. Echols,

175 Wis. 2d 653, 672, 499 N.W.2d 631 (1993) (holding that "[a]

trial court is not required to recite 'magic words' to set forth

its findings of fact") (quoting Monson v. Madison Family Inst.,

162 Wis. 2d 212, 215 n.3, 470 N.W.2d 853 (1991) (holding that a

circuit court's failure to label specific conduct egregious is

immaterial when such a finding is implicit in the court's

decision)); Englewood Cmty. Apartments Ltd. P'ship v. Alexander

Grant & Co., 119 Wis. 2d 34, 39 n.3, 349 N.W.2d 716 (Ct. App.

1984) (noting that, where a circuit court's implicit finding is

clear, failure to recite "magic words" does not result in
reversible error).

¶114 In this case, the circuit court was satisfied by clear

and convincing evidence that Melanie was incompetent to refuse

medication. Wis. Stat. §§ 51.20(13)(e), 51.61(1)(g)4.b. Though

the circuit court did not recite the precise language of the

burden of proof, the court's reliance on the expert testimony

and reports in concluding that Melanie was incompetent to refuse

medication demonstrates that the court was satisfied by clear

and convincing evidence.

8
No. 2012AP99.akz

¶115 Finally, the majority insists that the evidence

presented by the County inadequately supported the circuit

court's conclusions, and it opines that the outcome of the case

would be different if the County had offered additional

witnesses and detail regarding Melanie's incapacity. Majority

op., ¶¶94-95.5

¶116 Given that the County provided written reports and

uncontested testimony both from the County employee who oversaw

Melanie's case, as well as an independent psychiatrist who

evaluated her, it is unclear what additional evidence the

majority would have the circuit court consider. Furthermore,

the majority opinion ignores that this testimony was

uncontroverted. Melanie presented no expert testimony and she

chose not to testify herself.

¶117 I conclude that the County satisfied its burden by

clear and convincing evidence. See supra, ¶¶102-04. The

circuit court had a written letter and testimony from Melanie's

5
As discussed in footnote 3, the circuit court, not a jury,
acted as the fact finder in this case. The reviewing court has
a duty to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
court's verdict. Wis. Stat. § 805.17(2); Reuben, 324
Wis. 2d 758, ¶19. Here, the circuit court cited the proper
legal standard and concluded that the standard was fulfilled.
The court's order stated that due to mental illness, Melanie "is
substantially incapable of applying an understanding of the
advantages, disadvantages and alternatives to [] her condition
in order to make an informed choice as to whether to accept or
refuse psychotropic medications." The majority opines that its
conclusion might be different had the County presented more
evidence. See majority op., ¶95. In doing so, however, the
majority fails to search the record for evidence to sustain the
verdict and fails to view the testimony and reports in the light
most favorable to the court's determinations.

9
No. 2012AP99.akz

caseworker, who provided evidence that Melanie was noncompliant

with the terms of her outpatient treatment by failing to keep in

contact with the County and her doctors, changing care providers

without prior approval, and self-adjusting her medications. The

circuit court also had a written report and testimony from Dr.

Dave, who informed that court that Melanie's illness caused her

to have disturbed thoughts and perceptions, delusions, and

paranoid thinking. Dr. Dave concluded that Melanie was unlikely

to continue treatment voluntarily, as evidenced by her past

noncompliance. From this evidence, the circuit court properly

concluded that the County satisfied its burden to prove by clear

and convincing evidence that Melanie was substantially incapable6

of applying an understanding of the advantages, disadvantages,

and alternatives of her prescribed medication to her mental

illness in order to make an informed choice as to whether to

accept or refuse the medication.

¶118 An involuntary medication order takes effect only if

patients cannot apply their knowledge of medications or

treatments to their illness, which can be evidenced by failing

to take medications as prescribed. Here, Melanie failed to take

her medications as prescribed.

¶119 The majority opinion once again creates a substantial

hurdle for counties to clear before an individual who has been

6
The majority's interpretation of "substantially incapable"
as "to a considerable degree" should not be read as changing the
standard required to prove that a person is incompetent to
refuse medication under Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b. Majority
op., ¶70.

10
No. 2012AP99.akz

committed because he or she has been found to be a danger to

himself, herself, or others under a Chapter 51 can be

involuntarily medicated. In Virgil D., the court interpreted a

portion of Wis. Stat. § 51.61 to limit when treatment could be

involuntarily administered. Virgil D. v. Rock Cnty., 189

Wis. 2d 1, 9-11, 524 N.W.2d 894 (1994). The legislature passed

Wis. Stat. § 51.61(1)(g)4.b. in response to Virgil D., which

added a second way for counties to prove that a patient is

incompetent to refuse medication. 1995 Wis. Act 268, § 2. Now

the majority opinion repeats the roadblock Virgil D. created.

Therefore, as a practical matter, the majority's elevated

standard will result in counties being unable to properly treat

those mentally ill individuals who are a danger to themselves or

others.

¶120 For the foregoing reasons, I respectfully dissent.

¶121 I am authorized to state that Justices PATIENCE DRAKE

ROGGENSACK and MICHAEL J. GABLEMAN join this dissent.

11
No. 2012AP99.akz

1

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/1033477. Public record. Not legal advice.