In this case, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that people cannot be institutionalized against their will in a psychiatric hospital unless they are determined to be a threat to themselves or to others.

The ruling directly addresses the notion of "dangerousness" as grounds for involuntary commitment for psychiatric treatment, and the personal liability of physicians for their professional actions. This represents a series of federal and state changes that shift the public understanding of people with mental health disabilities from "problems to be controlled" or "put away" to people who are members of a community.