Trent Patrick
Dr. Moloney
SOC 350
October 9, 2015
Concept Application 2
Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment
For my Concept Application I chose an article from TIME HEALTH CARE that discusses a study released in February of 2015. This study is relevant to our topic discussion on involuntary psychiatric treatment and how several states are benefitting from forcing people into out patient care. I found that this article very interesting since it covers the topics we just got finished with in class. For example, the assignment we did on the involuntary psychiatric treatment of Ms. Brady, who was making some very flawed decisions that essentially forced the class to be divided amongst the arguments for in patient care, out patient care, or her working …show more content…
The study released by the Health Management Associates consulting firm found that in places where states had passed laws that gave local judges the ability to force people into short term psychiatric treatment and outpatient care, spent less money on treating mentally ill individuals than other states and counties that didn’t have this judicial ability. The study found that the expensive start up for passing these assistive outpatient programs essentially pay for themselves. The study found net savings of 47% in New York City, 58% in surrounding counties of New York, and 50% in Summit County, Ohio. The study also found that hospitalizations dropped to 40% in New York City, and 67% in Summit County, …show more content…
Other individuals were quick to pick up on this problem as well. Towards the end of the article, the controversial idea of allowing judges to force people to be involuntarily committed becomes attacked by patient rights activist Daniel Fisher. He stated, “that he worries such programs represent “a slippery slope” back to the kind of mass institutionalization seen in the 1940s and ’50s.” (Fisher, National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery)
I disagree with providing judges the ability to force individuals into psychiatric treatment. This is not a power that the judiciary can be awarded, and I happen to agree with Daniel Fisher in that if we allow individuals outside of mental health fields to begin making decisions for individuals and forcing them into institutions, then we are simply re-forming the institutionalization that was brought forth in the 40’s and
Dr. Moloney
SOC 350
October 9, 2015
Concept Application 2
Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment
For my Concept Application I chose an article from TIME HEALTH CARE that discusses a study released in February of 2015. This study is relevant to our topic discussion on involuntary psychiatric treatment and how several states are benefitting from forcing people into out patient care. I found that this article very interesting since it covers the topics we just got finished with in class. For example, the assignment we did on the involuntary psychiatric treatment of Ms. Brady, who was making some very flawed decisions that essentially forced the class to be divided amongst the arguments for in patient care, out patient care, or her working …show more content…
The study released by the Health Management Associates consulting firm found that in places where states had passed laws that gave local judges the ability to force people into short term psychiatric treatment and outpatient care, spent less money on treating mentally ill individuals than other states and counties that didn’t have this judicial ability. The study found that the expensive start up for passing these assistive outpatient programs essentially pay for themselves. The study found net savings of 47% in New York City, 58% in surrounding counties of New York, and 50% in Summit County, Ohio. The study also found that hospitalizations dropped to 40% in New York City, and 67% in Summit County, …show more content…
Other individuals were quick to pick up on this problem as well. Towards the end of the article, the controversial idea of allowing judges to force people to be involuntarily committed becomes attacked by patient rights activist Daniel Fisher. He stated, “that he worries such programs represent “a slippery slope” back to the kind of mass institutionalization seen in the 1940s and ’50s.” (Fisher, National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery)
I disagree with providing judges the ability to force individuals into psychiatric treatment. This is not a power that the judiciary can be awarded, and I happen to agree with Daniel Fisher in that if we allow individuals outside of mental health fields to begin making decisions for individuals and forcing them into institutions, then we are simply re-forming the institutionalization that was brought forth in the 40’s and