California Code of Regulations
Title 15 - Crime Prevention and Corrections
Division 3 - Adult Institutions, Programs and Parole
Chapter 2 - Rules and Regulations of Health Care Services
Subchapter 2 - Patient's Entitlements and Responsibilities
Article 5 - Health Care Grievances
Section 3999.227 - Preparation and Submittal of a Health Care Grievance

(a) The patient is limited to the use of one CDCR 602 HC to describe the specific complaint that relates to their health care which they believe has a material adverse effect on their health or welfare, and one CDCR 602 HC A, if additional space is needed.

(b) The patient shall complete Section A of the CDCR 602 HC and submit to the HCGO where the patient is housed within 30 calendar days of:

(c) An individual may help the patient prepare the health care grievance unless the act of providing such assistance results in any of, but not limited to, the following:

(d) An individual may not submit a health care grievance on behalf of another person.

(e) The patient is limited to one issue or set of issues related to a single health care discipline that can reasonably be addressed in a single health care grievance response.

(f) The patient shall print legibly or type in a standard font on the lines provided on the health care grievance form(s). There shall be only one line of text on each line provided on the health care grievance form(s).

(g) The patient shall document clearly and coherently all information known and available to them regarding the issue.

(h) The patient may request an interview by initialing the appropriate box on the CDCR 602 HC.

(i) The patient shall sign and date an original CDCR 602 HC. If the original health care grievance is not available, the patient may obtain a copy stamped "treat as original" from the HCGO for submission.

(j) The patient shall include supporting documents necessary for the clarification and/or resolution of the issue(s) prior to submitting the health care grievance pursuant to section 3999.225(z).

(k) If unable to obtain some supporting documents, the patient shall submit the health care grievance with all available documents and an explanation of why the remaining documents are not available.

(l) The patient shall present their health care grievance in a single submission.

(m) The patient shall submit the institutional level health care grievance for processing to the HCGO where the grievant is housed.

(n) The patient may not use threatening, obscene, demeaning, or abusive language, except if the grievant alleges health care staff used such language.

(o) The patient shall not deface the health care grievance package.

(p) The patient shall not contaminate the health care grievance or attach physical, organic or inorganic objects, particles, other materials, or samples. Examples of contaminants or attachments include, but are not limited to, food, medication, clothing, razor blades, needles, human hair, tissue, and/or bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, or excrement. Health care grievances received that are suspected to contain hazardous or toxic material that may present a threat to the safety and security of staff, incarcerated persons, or the institution shall be referred to custody staff for potential disciplinary sanctions.

(q) The patient shall not submit a health care grievance which includes information or accusations the grievant knows to be false or makes a deliberate attempt to distort the facts.