Am J Psychiatry 1981; 138:774-778
Copyright © 1981 by American Psychiatric Association
Effect of the Rennie decision on private hospitalization in New Jersey: two case reports
IN Perr
The Rennie decision in New Jersey on the right to refuse treatment has been
extended from public mental health programs to private psychiatric
hospitals where conditions are very different from those which engendered
the decision. This ripple effect may result in therapeutic delay, increased
cost, possible general medical neglect, family turmoil, and misuse or loss
of insurance benefits. The two cases described by the author resulted in
expenditures of more than $30,000 by the patients and their insurers. The
author criticizes the policy of using independent psychiatrists to review
treatment in private hospitals. He believes that if the right to refuse
treatment is maintained, prompt judicial review without prior restraining
orders should be public policy.
