In his state of the city address last week, San Diego Mayor Gloria called combating homelessness his top priority. Among the initiatives he proposed was working with the state to reform its conservatorship laws, which he calls "too restrictive."
A conservatorship could allow a court to determine that a person is too ill or incapacitated to make decisions for themselves and then be placed in a care facility, even if it's against their will.
While many immediately may think of Brittany Spears' recent case, which is a probate conservatorship, the reforms being discussed by Gloria to fight homelessness have to do with Lanterman Petris Short conservatorships, or LPS. Dr. Michael Plopper, psychiatrist with Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital, refers to LPS conservatorships as being "specific to providing services and support to people with severe mental illness."
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"These are people who, in recent years, have fallen through the cracks, whose needs have not been met by available services," Plopper said.
Plopper joined Midday Edition Thursday to help explain the mechanics of conservatorship, while adding caution to state and local leaders looking to amend conservatorship laws.
"Unless there are adequate services to meet the needs of the conservatee, there isn't a lot of point in doing it," Plopper said.
