2. The plaintiff was committed to the Hastings State Hospital by orden
the Probate Court, which found him to be "mentally ill-inebriate "The
commitment petition was brought by the plaintiff's mother, apparently
to secure treatment for him for a developing drug and alcohol problem
Several attempts at voluntary treatment, prior to the commitment pro-
ceedings, had proven unsuccessful. Shortly after admission, the plaintiff
allegedly attempted to strangle a member of the hospital staff and was
transferred to the Security Hospital. Upon admission to the Security
Hospital, the plaintiff was diagnosed with simple schizophrenia. He was
treated with tranquilizing and antidepressant medications but appar-
ently failed to improve. Consent was sought from the plaintiff's mother
to administer electroshock treatment. Consent was not given, but the
mother did request the consultation of a second psychiatrist, who con-
curred with the physicians at Security Hospital. Without the consent of
the plaintiff or his mother, electroshock treatment was begun. Did this
treatment without consent invade the patient's privacy?