Mandatory Outpatient Treatment

The CPA believes that MOT is useful in assisting some patients with persistent deficits in insight to follow a treatment regime while living in the community. The CPA recognizes advantages to the use of a diversionary model of MOT, including the availability of involuntary hospitalization as an option for nonadherence to the requirements of the treatment order. MOT must not be viewed as an alternative to the provision of appropriate services. A comprehensive package of psychiatric and community support services must be available to patients. The CPA recommends that all legislation supporting MOT contain a clause requiring that the services needed to support outpatient management be available in the community. Patients who are compelled to take medication in the community must be provided with the most suitable medication irrespective of cost. Society should fund the cost of medication (and other treatments) that patients on MOT are expected to take. Patients and other interested parties should have the option to request a review of the need for MOT by an independent tribunal. All patients on continuing MOT should have a mandatory annual review by the independent tribunal. Patients placed on MOT must be provided with information about these legal rights.