[Magdalen] Washington Post article on involuntary hospitalization of the mentally ill

[Susan Hagen]

Kate, whatever model you believe in as the cause, people are almost
always considered for involuntary confinement because their outward
behavior has become troubling.  It may be disorderly conduct, petty
crime, family members or neighbors reporting that they are isolating
themselves and not eating or taking care of their hygiene.  They
themselves may call the police to report that family or neighbors are
trying to kill them.  They may assault family or emergency responders
who try to help them.  There are a thousand things that may trigger an
intervention.   I listen to people who have been stabilized and
according to their self report they were just fine, minding their own
business when the jack booted storm troopers broke in and hauled them
away.  Their history documents very different circumstances.  What is
supposed to happen?  Do they belong in jail?  Should they starve?
Threaten people?

I don't know the answers to any of these questions.  I do think that
sometimes people need to be in a secure place where they can get care
and I don't think that jail is the right place.

Susan



On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 10:18 PM, Kate Conant <kate.conant at gmail.com> wrote:
> I know the details, but that doesn't make it right.  I don't know what
> other diseases make one "eligible" for involuntary confinement.  This just
> highlights the societal prejudice (and that is just as true among the
> medical community--at least around here).
>
> "What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and walk
> humbly with your God?"
> Micah 6:8
>
> On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 7:12 PM, James Oppenheimer-Crawford <
> oppenheimerjw at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> In most situations, the standard is two physicians (generally
>> psychiatrists) sign off on the patient being dangerous to himself or to
>> others.  The patient is held for a period of 72 hours, during which the
>> professionals decide whether or not to apply for a court commitment. At
>> both of those junctures, the patient often simply elects to become a
>> voluntary commitment.  The court can commit for up to 90 days, I believe.
>> The State pays attorneys to represent the patients, and yes, they sometimes
>> do in fact get the patient released when the State pros would have
>> preferred to keep them, but generally everyone tries very hard to have a
>> meeting of the minds.
>>
>> The time when the patient really truly is trying to be released and the
>> State is resisting, there is usually a very debilitating mental illness
>> making the patient unable to discern their need for care and protection.
>> Generally the patient is a danger to themselves, not to others. I wish Mr.
>> Hopkins would publicly acknowledge that his role is utterly fictitious.
>> Some folks think his character is typical. It's not.  At all, at all.
>>
>> James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
>> *"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better
>> for people coming behind you, and you don't do it, you're wasting your time
>> on this Earth."  -- *Roberto Clemente
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 12:51 PM, Kate Conant <kate.conant at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > The biggest problem I see with commitment laws is that they are
>> > discriminate treatment of the so-called "mentally ill".  They have the
>> > court system deciding what someone's "diagnosis" is and then shafting
>> them
>> > for it.  Brain disorders are medical disorders.
>> >
>> > Kate
>> >
>> > "What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and
>> walk
>> > humbly with your God?"
>> > Micah 6:8
>> >
>> > On Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 8:04 PM, James Oppenheimer-Crawford <
>> > oppenheimerjw at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > > "...no good can come out of the Iowa Writers' Workshop
>> > > "
>> > > .
>> > >
>> > > Might be a short story in there struggling to get out.
>> > >
>> > > James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
>> > > *"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things
>> > better
>> > > for people coming behind you, and you don't do it, you're wasting your
>> > time
>> > > on this Earth."  -- *Roberto Clemente
>> > >
>> >
>>



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