Posted by wendy b. on March 5, 2003, at 14:12:46
In reply to Re: Forcing mentally ill to take drugs - NY Times, posted by syringachalet on March 5, 2003, at 0:01:57
> Does it seem cruel and unkind?
No, it does not. Would it be painful for me to perform? Yes, it would. Would it be painful to even watch it, or even read about, as I have here in your account? Yes. I was not made of such sturdy material as you, and your commitment to your work is commendable.
>Depends on if you can ask yourself one question....
> If you were so out of control that you started injuring yourself or someone else, wouldnt you want someone to care enough to help you regain some minimum level of self-control in the least restrictive environment and by whatever means it took for your own self-esteem and dignity?
In this case, yes, I would want to protect others and myself from my injurious behavior. The patient in the case I bring up here, however, is not displaying any injurious behavior (at least the way it's reported). The defendant is composed enough to sit in a court room without being disruptive. So if the mentally ill person is not harming anyone in his environment, should he be medicated anyway? I don't think so. I think here, as in every aspect of life, the specifics of the situation have to be taken into account...Best wishes,
Wendy
poster:wendy b.
thread:205800
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030301/msgs/206176.html