Melrose-Wakefield Hospital v. H.S.

H.S., civilly committed to a psychiatric facility pursuant to G.L.c. 123, §§7 and 8, has appealed the order of commitment, asserting that the order must be vacated because the hearing on the petition for commitment was not commenced within the five-day period required by G.L.C. 123, §7(c), the petitioner lacked standing to file the petition, and the evidence was insufficient to warrant a finding beyond a reasonable doubt that the failure to hospitalize H.S. in a secure facility would create a substantial likelihood of serious harm.

On January 11, 2010, H.S. was voluntarily admitted to the…