In Re R.

These cases are before the court on petitions by Western State Hospital to extend for 90 days the detention of patients alleged to be gravely disabled. At each hearing, the attending psychiatrist gave his opinion, based on observations of and interviews with the patient, as to his or her mental condition. In each case the attorney for the patient objected to this testimony, claiming that it was subject to the physician-patient privilege. In each case the objection was overruled, and in each case further detention was ordered.

Each of the patients involved had been involuntarily committed for…