2011 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 24: Health and Safety
Article 7B: Mental Health Care Treatment Decisions, 24-7B-1 through 24-7B-16
Section 24-7B-13: Statutory damages.
24-7B-13. Statutory damages.
A. A health care provider or mental health treatment facility that intentionally violates the Mental Health Care Treatment Decisions Act [24-7B-1 NMSA 1978] is subject to liability to the aggrieved individual for damages of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or actual damages resulting from the violation, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees.
B. A person who intentionally falsifies, forges, conceals, defaces or obliterates an individual's advance directive for mental health treatment or a revocation of an advance directive for mental health treatment without the individual's consent or a person who coerces or fraudulently induces an individual to give, revoke or not give or revoke an advance directive for mental health treatment is subject to liability to that individual for damages of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or actual damages resulting from the action, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees.
C. The damages provided in this section are in addition to other types of relief available under other law, including civil and criminal law and law providing for disciplinary procedures.
