• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Wildflower Alliance

Wildflower Alliance

Home to the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Calendar
  • About Us
    • Mission + History
    • Defining Principles
    • Guiding Council of Western Mass
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • What We Do
    • Peer to Peer Supports
      • Centers and Respite
      • Community Bridging
      • Discord
      • Peer Support Line
    • Trainings
    • Wild Ivy Social Justice Network
    • Individual and Systems Advocacy
    • Alternative Healing Practices
    • Employment Supports & Career Initiatives
    • Housing Supports
      • Rainville
    • Direct Support and Consultations
  • Spaces
    • Afiya Peer-Run Respite
    • Greenfield
    • Holyoke
    • Pittsfield
    • Springfield
  • Publications
    • Film Productions
    • Articles
    • Books and Handbooks
    • In The News
    • Black Movement History
      • Black Movement History Leaders: Past & Present
      • Black Movement History Leaders: Gallery
      • Black Movement History Leaders: Oral History
      • Black Movement History Leaders: Project Team
  • Connect With Us
    • Contact & Newsletter
    • Donate
    • Payments
  • Log in

Five Fundamental Rights

May 27, 2013

Originally published in RLC Newsletter, September, 2012

 

Did you know that according to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 123, Section 23, you have five fundamental rights that apply any time you are receiving services from any program or hospital unit that is operated by, licensed by or contracting Human-Has-Rights-798799with the Department of Mental Health?? (This includes state and private hospitals, community mental health centers and residential programs.)

THESE RIGHTS INCLUDE*:

* Reasonable access to a telephones to make and receive confidential calls

Examples of common violations: Pay phones unless change is provided, phones in hallways or common areas, phones that are turned off throughout the day

* The ability to send and receive sealed, unopened, uncensored mail

Examples of common violations: Mail is opened and checked without due cause, writing materials and postage are not provided in reasonable quantities

* The ability to receive visitors of own choosing in private, at reasonable times, with limitations only to protect the privacy of other persons and to avoid serious disruptions to the normal functioning, with sufficient flexibility as to accommodate individual needs and desires of the person receiving services AND the visitors of that person.

Examples of common violations: Limited visiting hours, refusal of flexibility for visitor’s schedule, taking away visiting privileges in circumstances where there isn’t a clear and immediate danger

* A humane psychological and physical environment with privacy in security in resting, sleeping (not excluding roommates), dressing, bathing and personal hygiene, reading and writing and in toileting.

Examples of common violations: Being placed with a roommate that creates an unsafe space, observation while bathing, dressing/undressing, routine strip searches

* To receive or refuse to receive visits and phone calls from an attorney, legal advocate (can be a peer advocate!), physician, psychologist, clergy member or social worker outside of visiting hours and whether or not requested by the person receiving services.  

Examples of common violations: Person is not given contact information for free legal service upon admission, no flexibility in scheduling meetings, peer advocates not recognized as legitimate, etc.

The law also requires that these rights be posted and provided to people as they enter services.

* These rights have been summarized here. For the full legal text, visit here.

Filed Under: Articles, Publications

Footer

Our Spaces

  • Afiya Peer Run Respite
  • Springfield “Bowen” Center
  • Pittsfield Center
  • Greenfield Center
  • Holyoke Center

What We Do

  • Peer to Peer Supports
  • Trainings
  • Advocacy
  • Alternative Healing Practices

General Info

  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact & Newsletter

Donate Now

Close×

Copyright Wildflower Alliance© 2023 · Log in · Wildflower Team Email