Most people, if they think about it at all, don't usually think of 26 year-old pop stars when they think of conservatorships. But that's just what happened to increasingly unstable pop icon Britney Spears on February 3, 2008. Spears, who was admitted to the UCLA Medical Center psychiatric ward on February 1, was originally supposed to be released after a 72 hour evaluation (known in California as a "5150 hold," after Welfare and Institutions code section 5150). Doctors have the discretion to extend the hold for up to two weeks if they think the patient is a danger to themselves or others. That is what happened to Ms. Spears, according the Associated Press.
According the AP story, On Friday, February 1, Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz granted Spears' father James and her attorney Andrew Wallet as her conservators, and set a hearing for today to review the matter.
In California, a court has the power to appoint a conservatorship of an individual who is gravely gravely disabled and a danger to themselves or others. These are known as "LPS" (for Lanterman-Petris-Short Act) Conservatorships. The process requires a referral by the doctor to an investigator in Mental Health Services. In Los Angeles County, a family member can request that the doctor evaluate the conservatee. The investigator interviews the conservatee and others if necessary, and then presents a petition to the court recommending what kind of conservatorship should be established, and who should be appointed conservator. Conservators can also be designated in advance in a durable power of attorney. This may be what happened here, given how quickly this all came together.
The hearing is this afternoon on the appointment of the conservator for Ms. Spears. We'll stay tuned to this compelling, if tragic, unfolding drama...
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