Clients' Rights
As a client of Santa Clara County's Behavioral Health Services Department, you have the right to:
- Be treated with respect by all behavioral health staff.
- Receive services in a safe environment.
- Receive culturally competent services.
- Give informed consent regarding treatment, medication and side effects.
- Understand and participate in the behavioral health treatment process.
- Receive confidential care and record-keeping.
- Request to change psychiatrist, service provider, clinician and/or get a second opinion.
- Receive a timely response to problems or concerns about treatment.
- Have access to medical records.
- Register a complaint and/or file a grievance regarding services.
- File a request for a State Fair Hearing when a Notice of Action is received stating that services are being denied, changed or terminated.
- Authorize a person to act on your behalf during the Complaint, Formal Grievance or State Fair Hearing process.
- Submit a complaint and/or file a grievance without experiencing any negative repercussions.
The Department contracts with Mental Health Advocacy Project (MHAP), a program of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley. To learn more about your county Patients' Rights Advocate read the MHAP brochure.
"Rights for Individuals in Mental Health Facilities: Admitted Under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act" Handbook from the California Department of Health Care Services (DCHS) Office of Patients' Rights (OPR) Web page.
- Rights for Individuals in Mental Health Facilities handbook English
- 精神健康護理院所中個人的權利 handbook Chinese
- Derechos de las personas en instituciones de salud mental handbook Spanish
- Mga Karapatan para sa mga Taong nasa mga Pasilidad para sa Kalusugang Pangkaisipan handbook Tagalog
- Quyền Lợi Của Người Hưởng Dụng Tại Càc Trung Tâm Phục Vụ Sức Khỏe Tâm Thần handbook Vietnamese