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

[Susan Hagen]

I forgot suicide and self-harm.  People try over and over again to
kill themselves and come very close to succeeding.


On Sat, Feb 14, 2015 at 3:16 PM, Susan Hagen <susanvhagen at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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
>>> > >
>>> >
>>>
>
>
>
> --
> Before enlightenment pay bills, do laundry.  After enlightenment pay
> bills, do laundry.



-- 
Before enlightenment pay bills, do laundry.  After enlightenment pay
bills, do laundry.