In Re Wheeler

Respondent, Gladys Wheeler, appeals the decision of the trial court which ordered her committed for mental-health treatment. Respondent argues that the physician’s certificate accompanying the petition for involuntary commitment was insufficient as a matter of law and this deprived the trial court of subject matter jurisdiction.

Involuntary-commitment proceedings are governed by the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code (Code) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 91½, par. 3 — 600 et seq.). The State sought to have respondent involuntarily admitted by emergency certification. This procedure…