Sovereign Media LLC • Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Your Mental Health Rights
Know what you are entitled to. The decision is always yours.
This page exists because knowing your rights is the first step to protecting them.
These rights belong to you regardless of your diagnosis, your insurance, your income, or what anyone tells you.
Sovereign does not provide mental health treatment. We provide clear information. What you do with this information is entirely your choice.
No login required — ever. This page is public and will remain so.
General Rights
Informed Consent
Before any treatment, you have the right to be told what it is, what it does, the risks involved, and what your alternatives are. You generally have the right to say no.
Right to Refuse Treatment
You generally have the right to refuse treatment, including medication, except in certain emergency or court-authorized situations. A provider can explain their recommendation — they cannot force it in most circumstances.
Right to Your Records
You have the right to see and receive copies of your medical and mental health records.
Right to Know Your Diagnosis
You have the right to know what diagnosis, if any, has been recorded about you and the criteria used to reach it.
Right to a Second Opinion
You can always seek another professional opinion. No provider can prevent this.
Right to Confidentiality
What you share with a mental health provider is generally confidential, with specific legal exceptions. Ask your provider to explain those limits clearly in your situation.
Medication Rights
Know What You Are Taking
You have the right to know the name of any medication, how it works, its side effects, and what may happen if you stop taking it.
Right to Refuse Medication
You can refuse medication. In most outpatient situations this cannot be forced.
Right to Discuss Alternatives
You can ask about non-medication alternatives. A provider should discuss these with you.
Hospitalization Rights
Right to Know Why
If hospitalization is recommended, you have the right to know the specific legal and clinical reasons.
Voluntary vs. Involuntary
Know which applies to you. Voluntary and involuntary admission have very different implications for your rights. Ask specifically which applies to your situation.
Right to Discharge
If you are a voluntary patient you generally have the right to discharge yourself. There may be a waiting period — ask specifically.
Right to Contact Someone
You have the right to contact a person of your choosing, an attorney, and a patient advocate.
Therapy Relationship Rights
Understand the Approach
You can ask your therapist to explain their approach and why they believe it is appropriate for you.
Right to End Therapy
You can end a therapeutic relationship at any time. You do not owe a provider continued engagement.
Right to Clear Boundaries
A therapist has professional obligations regarding boundaries. If something feels wrong, you have the right to report it to their licensing board.
Hawaiʻi-Specific Rights (HRS Chapter 334 & 334E)
Patients in psychiatric facilities have additional protections under Hawaiʻi law, including the right to a humane environment, freedom from discriminatory treatment, participation in treatment planning, and presumption of civil rights. Ask any provider for a copy of your rights under Hawaiʻi law.
Native Hawaiian Healing Rights
Right to Traditional Practices
You have the right to request that traditional Native Hawaiian healing practices — including hoʻoponopono, laʻau lapaʻau, lomilomi, and connection to ʻāina — be considered as part of your care, alongside or instead of Western approaches.
Cultural Respect
Providers should respect and support culturally grounded healing when requested. Healing the land, family, and spirit are often inseparable from healing the individual.
Important: This page provides general information, not legal or medical advice. Your specific rights may depend on your situation, setting, and applicable law. When in doubt, ask your provider directly or consult a patient advocate.