SDMC serves mentally disabled persons in facilities or programs licensed, operated or funded by the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities or the Office of Mental Health who do not have capacity to make informed decisions regarding major medical treatment and do not have a legally authorized surrogate to act on their behalf.
SDMC functions using specially trained volunteer panels that review declarations regarding a person’s capacity and need for treatment, then render a decision at a hearing. SDMC decisions are rendered on average within 14 days from the time a case is received in our office.
SDMC offers a more timely, person centered and cost-free alternative to the court system to obtain informed consent for non-emergency major medical treatment. The SDMC process keeps all interested parties involved while putting the needs of the patient first.
