Sanctuary Harm and Mental Health Care

• In Event: 40461 - Section on Sociology of Law Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 1: Medical Ethics and Law

Abstract

This paper examines sanctuary harm by examining publicly available archives of the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission's (IGAC) Human Rights Authority. The Human Rights Authority is a division of the state agency, the IGAC, that is granted legal authority to investigate allegations of patient rights' violations in all facilities in the state of Illinois. The Human Rights Authority makes its investigations and findings publicly available after each investigation is closed in reports that are posted online. Through analysis of 439 reports, I uncover various aspects of sanctuary harm and how the providers involved in the mistreatment or violations of the state Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code react to being investigated and either resist acknowledging any wrongdoing or accept the findings of the Human Rights Authority as an important opportunity to improve quality of care.

Author

• Regina Pessagno, Veterans Health Administration