Unfortunately, mentally ill individuals fall into the category of borderline incompetence. Within America, there are tens of millions of people who are affected by mental illness and only about half of those affected, receive treatment (NIMH). The lack of knowledge towards the mentally ill within our society has allowed neglect and misunderstanding to occur. Due to this, mentally ill individuals are not represented or supported well within our society. Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions and disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors (Mayo Clinic). This definition of mental illness
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If a mentally ill patient is competent (meaning efficient and capable) they are able to think clearly and are not affected by any psychological or mental defect. Every health care provider who has to treat or deal with a mentally ill individual should act in the best interests of the patients even if they are not able to make rational decisions. The concept of personhood can also be added to the type of treatment a mentally ill person should receive. Health care professionals may question a schizophrenics’ personhood. The label that may be attached to a patient may skew the health care provider’s attitude towards them. This was clearly shown in the incident where sociologists and psychiatrists claimed that they heard voices and were immediately considered “schizophrenics”. Personhood refers to the characteristics and qualities that allow a human being to be a person. Within this concept a human is not a person if they do not meet the criteria of personhood. Personhood is not a biological concept it is based on morals. A person can have the criteria of a human, but it cannot be vice versa. According to Mary Anne Warren a person contains personhood if he or she has the ability to think, self-awareness, the use of language, agency, and consciousness of the external world. In my opinion, a person had personhood if they are a living and breathing thing who has or who will eventually have the ability to think. A patient or person who suffers from schizophrenia may not be aware of themselves or of the external world due to irrational thinking or
If a mentally ill patient is competent (meaning efficient and capable) they are able to think clearly and are not affected by any psychological or mental defect. Every health care provider who has to treat or deal with a mentally ill individual should act in the best interests of the patients even if they are not able to make rational decisions. The concept of personhood can also be added to the type of treatment a mentally ill person should receive. Health care professionals may question a schizophrenics’ personhood. The label that may be attached to a patient may skew the health care provider’s attitude towards them. This was clearly shown in the incident where sociologists and psychiatrists claimed that they heard voices and were immediately considered “schizophrenics”. Personhood refers to the characteristics and qualities that allow a human being to be a person. Within this concept a human is not a person if they do not meet the criteria of personhood. Personhood is not a biological concept it is based on morals. A person can have the criteria of a human, but it cannot be vice versa. According to Mary Anne Warren a person contains personhood if he or she has the ability to think, self-awareness, the use of language, agency, and consciousness of the external world. In my opinion, a person had personhood if they are a living and breathing thing who has or who will eventually have the ability to think. A patient or person who suffers from schizophrenia may not be aware of themselves or of the external world due to irrational thinking or