The Cuyahoga County Community Mental Health Boards Client Rights Statement

These are the rights that all consumers are afforded when they apply for or receive services certified by Ohio Department of Mental Health. All contract agencies of CCCMHB have a Client Rights Officer.

Except for clients receiving forensic evaluation service as defined in paragraph (D)(9) of rule 5122:2-1-01 of the Administrative Code, from a certified forensic center, each client has all of the following rights as listed in paragraphs (D)(1) to (D)(22) of this rule. Rights of clients receiving only a forensic evaluation service from a certified forensic center are specified in paragraph (E) of this rule.

• (1) The right to be treated with consideration and respect for personal dignity, autonomy, and privacy;
  
  
• (2) The right to service in a humane setting which is the least restrictive feasible as defined in the treatment plan;
  
  
• (3) The right to be informed of ones own condition, of proposed or current services, treatment, or therapies, and of the alternatives;
  
  
• (4) The right to consent to or refuse any service, treatment, or therapy upon full explanation of the expected consequences of such consent or refusal. A parent or legal guardian may consent to or refuse any service, treatment or therapy on behalf of a minor client.
  
  
• (5) The right to a current, written, individualized service plan that addresses ones own mental health, physical health, social and economic needs, and that specifies the provision of appropriate and adequate services, as available, either directly or by referral.
  
  
• (6) The right to active and informed participation in the establishment, periodic review, and reassessment of the service plan;
  
  
• (7) The right to freedom from unnecessary or excessive medication;
  
  
• (8) The right to freedom from unnecessary restraint or seclusion;
  
  
• (9) The right to participate in any appropriate and available agency service, regardless of refusal of one or more other services, treatments, or therapies, or regardless of relapse from earlier treatment in that or another service, unless there is a valid and specific necessity which precludes and/or requires the clients participation in other services. This necessity shall be explained to the client and written in the clients current service plan;
  
  
• (10) The right to be informed of and refuse any unusual or hazardous treatment procedures;
  
  
• (11) The right to be advised of and refuse observation by techniques such as one-way vision mirrors, tape recorders, movies or photographs;
  
  
• (12) The right to have the opportunity to consult with independent treatment specialists or legal counsel, at ones own expense;
  
  
• (13) The right to confidentiality of communications and of all personally identifying information within the limitations and requirements for disclosure of various funding and/or certifying sources, state or federal statutes, unless release of information is specifically authorized by the client or parent or legal guardian of a minor client or court-appointed guardian of the person of an adult client in accordance with rule 5122:2-3-11 of the Administrative Code;
  
  
• (14) The right to have access to ones own psychiatric, medical or other treatment records, unless access to particular identified items of information is specifically restricted for that individual client for clear treatment reasons in the clients treatment plan. Clear treatment reasons shall be understood to mean only severe emotional damage to the client such that dangerous or self-injurious behavior is an imminent risk. The person restricting the information shall explain to the client and other persons authorized by the client the factual information about the individual client that necessitates the restriction. The restriction must be renewed at least annually to retain validity. Any person authorized by the client has unrestricted access to all information. Clients shall be informed in writing of agency policies and procedures for viewing or obtaining copies of personal records;
  
  
• (15) The right to be informed in advance of the reason(s) for discontinuance of service provision, and to be involved in planning for the consequences of that event;
  
  
• (16) The right to receive an explanation of the reasons for denial of service;
  
  
• (17) The right not to be discriminated against in the provision of service on the basis of religion, race, color, creed, sex, national origin, age, lifestyle, physical or mental handicap, developmental disability, or inability to pay;
  
  
• (18) The right to know the cost of services;
  
  
• (19) The right to be fully informed of all rights;
  
  
• (20) The right to exercise any and all rights without reprisal in any form including continued and uncompromised access to service;
  
  
• (21) The right to file a grievance; and
  
  
• (22) The right to have oral and written instructions for filing a grievance.

If you have a complaint or grievance, call your Agencys Client Rights Officer or CCCMHBs Client Rights Officer, Judy Jackson Winston at 216-241-3400, Ext. 309.

You can also contact Craig Fallon, Consumer Relations Specialist at 216-241-3400, Ext. 304.

At the same time, you can also contact Ohio Legal Rights Services at: 1-800-282-9181 or, Ohio Department of Mental Healths Client Rights Officer Ellen Colom Deacon at: 1-614-466-0236

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