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HRS §334-161

When a patient can be forced to get treatment

A patient already held in a psychiatric facility can be forced to take medication or other treatment if a court or authorized decision-maker finds all four conditions: the patient has a disease or defect, is imminently dangerous, the treatment is medically appropriate, and less intrusive options won't work. The law defines 'imminently dangerous' as likely to become dangerous within 45 days without help.

courts

The statute, as written — Criteria for issuance of court or administrative order for treatment over the patient's objection

(a) A patient who has been committed to a psychiatric facility for involuntary hospitalization or who is in the custody of the director and residing in a psychiatric facility may be ordered to receive treatment over the patient's objection, including the taking or application of medication, if the court, or administrative decision-maker through the administrative authorization process established pursuant to section 334-162, finds that: (1) The patient suffers from a physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect; (2) The patient is imminently dangerous to self or others; (3) The proposed treatment is medically appropriate; and (4) After considering less intrusive alternatives, treatment is necessary to forestall the danger posed by the patient. (b) For the purposes of this section, "imminently dangerous to self or others" means that, without intervention, the person will likely become dangerous to self or dangerous to others within the next forty-five days.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§334-162 Rules for forcing medical treatment on a patient

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.