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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85041</law_id><section_number>37.2-1102</section_number><catch_line>Certain actions may not be authorized</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="37.2">Behavioral Health and Developmental Services</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Judicial Authorization of Treatment</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="11">Judicial Authorization of Treatment</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The following actions may not be authorized under this chapter:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Nontherapeutic sterilization, abortion, or psychosurgery. <a id="paragraph-304805" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-1102/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Admission to a <span class="dictionary">training center</span> or a hospital. However, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an <span class="dictionary">order</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Judicial authorization of treatment" href="/37.2-1101/">37.2-1101</a> authorizing <span class="dictionary">treatment</span> of a person whose admission to a <span class="dictionary">training center</span> or hospital has been or is simultaneously being authorized under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Voluntary admission" href="/37.2-805/">37.2-805</a>, <a class="law" title="Judicial certification of eligibility for admission of persons with intellectual disability" href="/37.2-806/">37.2-806</a>, <a class="law" title="Emergency or respite care admissions to training centers" href="/37.2-807/">37.2-807</a>, or &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Involuntary temporary detention; issuance and execution of order" href="/37.2-809/">37.2-809</a> through <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Release of person prior to commitment hearing for involuntary admission" href="/37.2-813/">37.2-813</a>, or of a person who is subject to an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of involuntary admission previously or simultaneously issued under &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Commitment hearing for involuntary admission; written explanation; right to counsel; rights of petitioner" href="/37.2-814/">37.2-814</a> through <a class="law" title="Order of involuntary admission or mandatory outpatient treatment forwarded to CCRE; certain voluntary admissions forwarded to CCRE; firearm background check" href="/37.2-819/">37.2-819</a> or of Chapter 9 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/37.2-900/">37.2-900</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-304806" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-1102/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Administration of antipsychotic medication for a period to exceed 180 days or electroconvulsive therapy for a period to exceed 60 days pursuant to any <span class="dictionary">petition</span> filed under this section. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may authorize electroconvulsive therapy only if it is demonstrated by clear and convincing <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>, which shall include the <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> of a licensed psychiatrist, that all other reasonable forms of <span class="dictionary">treatment</span> have been considered and that electroconvulsive therapy is the most effective <span class="dictionary">treatment</span> for the person. Even if the <span class="dictionary">court</span> has authorized administration of antipsychotic medication or electroconvulsive therapy hereunder, these <span class="dictionary">treatments</span> may be administered over the person&#x2019;s objection only if he is subject to an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of involuntary admission, including involuntary outpatient <span class="dictionary">treatment</span>, previously or simultaneously issued under &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Commitment hearing for involuntary admission; written explanation; right to counsel; rights of petitioner" href="/37.2-814/">37.2-814</a> through <a class="law" title="Order of involuntary admission or mandatory outpatient treatment forwarded to CCRE; certain voluntary admissions forwarded to CCRE; firearm background check" href="/37.2-819/">37.2-819</a> or Chapter 9 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/37.2-900/">37.2-900</a> et seq.), or the provisions of Chapter 11 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Accused not to be tried while insane or feebleminded" href="/19.2-167/">19.2-167</a> et seq.) or Chapter 11.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Verdict of acquittal by reason of insanity to state the fact; temporary custody and evaluation" href="/19.2-182.2/">19.2-182.2</a> et seq.) of Title 19.2. <a id="paragraph-304807" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-1102/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Restraint or transportation of the person, unless the <span class="dictionary">court</span> finds upon clear and convincing <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that restraint or transportation is necessary to the administration of an authorized <span class="dictionary">treatment</span> for a physical <span class="dictionary">disorder</span> or for a mental <span class="dictionary">disorder</span> if the person is subject to an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of involuntary admission issued previously or simultaneously under Chapter 11 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Accused not to be tried while insane or feebleminded" href="/19.2-167/">19.2-167</a> et seq.) or 11.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Verdict of acquittal by reason of insanity to state the fact; temporary custody and evaluation" href="/19.2-182.2/">19.2-182.2</a> et seq.) of Title 19.2, &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Commitment hearing for involuntary admission; written explanation; right to counsel; rights of petitioner" href="/37.2-814/">37.2-814</a> through <a class="law" title="Order of involuntary admission or mandatory outpatient treatment forwarded to CCRE; certain voluntary admissions forwarded to CCRE; firearm background check" href="/37.2-819/">37.2-819</a>, or Chapter 9 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/37.2-900/">37.2-900</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-304808" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-1102/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, c. 921, &#xA7; 37.1-134.21; 1999, cc. 814, 946, 985; 2003, c. 790; 2004, cc. 66, 104, 1014; 2005, cc. 716, 751; 2012, cc. 115, 378.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
