Hot Topics in Mental Health & Law: Civil Commitment series
Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT
Shawgi Silver, MD, MPHS, will provide a comprehensive overview of juvenile involuntary commitment in Washington state, focusing on RCW 71.34 and Family-Initiated Treatment (FIT). This presentation will explore the legal criteria, ethical dilemmas, and clinical considerations involved in committing minors for psychiatric care. Through case studies and real-world examples, attendees will analyze the challenges of balancing minor autonomy, parental authority, and state intervention. The lecture also highlights alternative treatment options and strategies for trauma-informed care.
Learning objectives:
As a result of participating in this presentation, learners will be able to:
- Understand the legal framework; explain Washington state laws on juvenile involuntary commitment, including RCW 71.34 and Family-Initiated Treatment (FIT).
- Evaluate ethical and clinical considerations; discuss the balance between minor autonomy, parental rights, and state intervention in psychiatric care.
- Apply knowledge to clinical cases; use case studies to determine appropriate legal pathways and alternatives to hospitalization.
About the presenter:
Shawgi Silver, MD, MPHS, obtained his medical doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. He went on to earn a Master of Population Health Sciences prior to completing medical residency at the same institution. He sub-specialized in child and adolescent psychiatry with a concentration in neurodevelopmental disorders at Seattle Children’s Hospital and then completed an additional fellowship in forensic medicine at Oregon Health & Science University. He does work in worker’s compensation, disability claims, fitness for duty evaluations, tort claims, and competency evaluations. His experience with testimony and depositions is an additionally distinguishing feature of his medico-legal work.
Continuing education:
This talk is included in an eight-session webinar series hosted by the UW Center for Mental Health, Policy, and the Law, Hot Topics in Mental Health and Law: Civil Commitment, for which continuing education is available.
Webinar is free and will be recorded for later viewing.