Parham v. J. R.
United States Supreme Court
442 U.S. 584 (1979)
Relevant factsFree
Two children were voluntarily committed to Georgia mental institutions by a state agency and by their parents respectively, under a statutory scheme requiring the institution's superintendent to review a physician's and staff's recommendations before admission; the district court found this procedure unconstitutional for lacking sufficiently independent review.
IssueFree
Whether a child's liberty and due process rights are violated when parents or guardians have the child voluntarily committed to a mental institution in a commitment process that involves independent medical review.