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

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