Murphy v. Lower

On November 30, 1993, the Cook County public guardian (Public Guardian) filed an emergency petition pursuant to section 2—110 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code (Mental Health Code) (405 ILCS 5/2—110 (West 1992)) seeking authorization to consent to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for his ward, 81-year-old Lucille Austwick. Following a hearing, the trial court granted the petition. Mrs. Austwick appeals, and we reverse.

The relevant facts of this case, as gleaned from the Public Guardian’s emergency petition, are as follows. On October 18, 1991, the probate court appointed…