gravely disabled
Legal standard describing inability to provide basic personal needs due to mental illness, justifying involuntary treatment.
Full Definition
A legal determination that an individual cannot provide for basic personal needs such as food, clothing, or shelter as a result of mental illness. This condition serves as one of three criteria for involuntary psychiatric commitment alongside danger to self and danger to others. Emergency psychiatrists must document specific evidence of the patient's inability to meet survival needs, distinguishing this from temporary confusion or substance intoxication. The term appears in commitment orders and legal proceedings.
Usage
Usage note: Must be lowercase as it describes a condition, not a proper noun; requires specific behavioral evidence in documentation.
In Context
- "The patient was found gravely disabled, unable to obtain food or shelter despite available resources." — Commitment evaluation
- "Gravely disabled status requires evidence beyond simple poor judgment or eccentric behavior." — Legal training manual