Psychology: Releasing Mental Patients Part 2
But he was not dangerous to himself, had never been dangerous to others (although
his father had alleged he was in order to get him committed), and he emphatically
did not want to be committed to Chattahoochee. One hospitalization
was more than enough.
The judge who committed Donaldson told him that he would be in the hospital
for a few weeks." A progress note written less than three months after he was
admitted indicated that he appeared to be in remission. And because his first hospitalization
had been brief, there was every reason to expect this one to be brief
too. Nevertheless, Donaldson remained in Florida State Hospital for fourteen and-
a-half years.
Donaldson is a Christian Scientist. Medication and electric shock treatments
were both offered to him, but he refused them on religious grounds. What care
and treatment did he get then? None. He rarely saw Drs. O'Connor or Gumanis,
his physicians, and then only briefly. Grounds privileges and occupational therapy
were denied him during the first ten years of his hospitalization. Some six years
after he had been hospitalized, Helping Hands, Inc., a reputable organization
that operates halfway houses for mental patients, offered to care for Donaldson.
But his psychiatrist, Dr. O'Connor, refused to release him to anyone but his parents.
By this time, his parents were too old and infirm to accept that responsibility,
and presumably Dr. O'Connor knew that. Finally, a college friend James
attempts to have Donaldson released in his custody. His were either
refused outright or frustrated.
During this period, Donaldson smuggled letters out of the hospital to anyone
who might help. Often, however, moil sent through hospital channels would be
opened or simply thrown out. Donoldson's teenage daughter wrote "Daddy, I
know you are not sick. But why don't you write?" "I was writing," Donaldson says.
"ayes" have had their vigorous spokesmen, from the English philosopher
John Stuart Mill of the last century to psychiatrist Thomas S. Szasz today. In
On Liberty (1859), Mill wrote:
The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in
our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede
their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether
bodily, or mental and spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each
other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems
good to the rest. (Mill, p. 18)
Thomas Szasz is one of the most critical analysts of the nature of psychiatry
and its role in society today. Szasz points out that mental illness is different
from physical illness. There are no clear or generally accepted criteria
of mental illness. "Looking for evidence of such illness is like searching for
evidence of heresy.
Looking for treatment?
If you are ready to schedule a FREE Consultation...
I encourage you to access this website
for the treatment I recommend here:
http://www.TheLiberatorMethod.com/
his father had alleged he was in order to get him committed), and he emphatically
did not want to be committed to Chattahoochee. One hospitalization
was more than enough.
The judge who committed Donaldson told him that he would be in the hospital
for a few weeks." A progress note written less than three months after he was
admitted indicated that he appeared to be in remission. And because his first hospitalization
had been brief, there was every reason to expect this one to be brief
too. Nevertheless, Donaldson remained in Florida State Hospital for fourteen and-
a-half years.
Donaldson is a Christian Scientist. Medication and electric shock treatments
were both offered to him, but he refused them on religious grounds. What care
and treatment did he get then? None. He rarely saw Drs. O'Connor or Gumanis,
his physicians, and then only briefly. Grounds privileges and occupational therapy
were denied him during the first ten years of his hospitalization. Some six years
after he had been hospitalized, Helping Hands, Inc., a reputable organization
that operates halfway houses for mental patients, offered to care for Donaldson.
But his psychiatrist, Dr. O'Connor, refused to release him to anyone but his parents.
By this time, his parents were too old and infirm to accept that responsibility,
and presumably Dr. O'Connor knew that. Finally, a college friend James
attempts to have Donaldson released in his custody. His were either
refused outright or frustrated.
During this period, Donaldson smuggled letters out of the hospital to anyone
who might help. Often, however, moil sent through hospital channels would be
opened or simply thrown out. Donoldson's teenage daughter wrote "Daddy, I
know you are not sick. But why don't you write?" "I was writing," Donaldson says.
"ayes" have had their vigorous spokesmen, from the English philosopher
John Stuart Mill of the last century to psychiatrist Thomas S. Szasz today. In
On Liberty (1859), Mill wrote:
The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in
our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede
their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether
bodily, or mental and spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each
other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems
good to the rest. (Mill, p. 18)
Thomas Szasz is one of the most critical analysts of the nature of psychiatry
and its role in society today. Szasz points out that mental illness is different
from physical illness. There are no clear or generally accepted criteria
of mental illness. "Looking for evidence of such illness is like searching for
evidence of heresy.
Looking for treatment?
If you are ready to schedule a FREE Consultation...
I encourage you to access this website
for the treatment I recommend here:
http://www.TheLiberatorMethod.com/