Mental illness has become a serious issue affecting an abundance of people all across the United States. According to NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness, 43.8 million adults experience some type of mental illness, and 10 million adults experience a severe mental disorder affecting their day to day life. Mental disorders affect more than the individuals with the disease, but the friends and families taking care of them as well. Over the years, scientists have developed a variety of medications to help patients suffering with mental disorders. However, with these medications can come unpleasant side effects, resulting in patients not wanting to take their medication. Someone who’s mentally incompetent and causes no harm to themselves
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For example, Oliver Sacs refers to the drug haloperidol, and how it can dramatically reduce the symptoms of Tourette’s. However, while certain medications drastically reduce the symptoms. The side effects produced by these medications cause the patient to feel dreadful. For instance, in the article “A Surgeons Life” Oliver Sacs talks regarding a man named Bennett, who was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, Bennett had been prescribed the drug haloperidol to moderate his severe case of Tourette’s. While on medication Bennett’s symptoms were under control, however, he no longer felt himself. Bennett described the side effects as being dreadful. Furthermore, forcing medication to an incompetent person who’s not a danger to themselves or society should not be our right. Only the patient truly knows how the medication makes them feel, and if they feel they’re happier living with their symptoms compared to dealing with the side effects of their medication. Hence, they should be allowed to refuse treatment. Overall, the patient should have the right to dictate what goes on with their body, and if they refuse medication advise them to seek out alternative treatments that don’t require …show more content…
With that being said, a mentally incompetent person who causes no harm to himself or others should have the right to refuse medication for his condition. Forcing someone to take their medication for several different reasons. When forcing a patient to take his medication is the welfare of the patient truly the main priority? Or is the medication being used to make the patient easier to manage. Secondly, it should be the patients right to dictate whether or not medication should be used. Only the patient truly knows how they feel on or off the medication, and if they believe the side effects of the medication are worst then the symptoms of their condition, then they have the right to decide their method of treatment. Lastly, patients should be given the opportunity to seek out alternative treatments for their mental illness. Whether that means trying different types of medications, or testing alternative methods which doesn’t require any form of medication. As seen earlier, there are alternative methods that have helped control the symptoms experienced by patients with severe mental disorders. Therefore, further research should be done to seek out these alternative treatments, in order to, help those who refuse medication. In conclusion, I’m not arguing to stop the treatment of mental
For example, Oliver Sacs refers to the drug haloperidol, and how it can dramatically reduce the symptoms of Tourette’s. However, while certain medications drastically reduce the symptoms. The side effects produced by these medications cause the patient to feel dreadful. For instance, in the article “A Surgeons Life” Oliver Sacs talks regarding a man named Bennett, who was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, Bennett had been prescribed the drug haloperidol to moderate his severe case of Tourette’s. While on medication Bennett’s symptoms were under control, however, he no longer felt himself. Bennett described the side effects as being dreadful. Furthermore, forcing medication to an incompetent person who’s not a danger to themselves or society should not be our right. Only the patient truly knows how the medication makes them feel, and if they feel they’re happier living with their symptoms compared to dealing with the side effects of their medication. Hence, they should be allowed to refuse treatment. Overall, the patient should have the right to dictate what goes on with their body, and if they refuse medication advise them to seek out alternative treatments that don’t require …show more content…
With that being said, a mentally incompetent person who causes no harm to himself or others should have the right to refuse medication for his condition. Forcing someone to take their medication for several different reasons. When forcing a patient to take his medication is the welfare of the patient truly the main priority? Or is the medication being used to make the patient easier to manage. Secondly, it should be the patients right to dictate whether or not medication should be used. Only the patient truly knows how they feel on or off the medication, and if they believe the side effects of the medication are worst then the symptoms of their condition, then they have the right to decide their method of treatment. Lastly, patients should be given the opportunity to seek out alternative treatments for their mental illness. Whether that means trying different types of medications, or testing alternative methods which doesn’t require any form of medication. As seen earlier, there are alternative methods that have helped control the symptoms experienced by patients with severe mental disorders. Therefore, further research should be done to seek out these alternative treatments, in order to, help those who refuse medication. In conclusion, I’m not arguing to stop the treatment of mental