Was it the failures of research that we saw or was it cruelty inflected by the h
ID: 123501 • Letter: W
Question
Was it the failures of research that we saw or was it cruelty inflected by the helpless? As students in healthcare administration, we toured several psychiatric facilities in the … area. At one facility we were taken to a below-ground dark dingy corridor where we observed iron barred cells with patients that appeared to lack the attributes that reflect a human being. There seemed to be no dignity related to their care. They were caged in like animals behind bars. As we walked in the corridor we were told not to go to near the caged cells. Each cage seemed to have a distinct species of a being totally different than what we would expect to see above ground. What cruelties were inflicted on these people? It was unsettling to see and unnerving to describe. We just thought to ourselves, how ghastly, there are people like this in the world. Were they born this way and if they were, why were they hidden away in a dungeon? Were these the results of lobectomies and failed experiments? Where are such people today? Do they still exist?
Discussion
1. Discuss what legal and ethical values you believe were violated.
2. Discuss what action state government could take to prevent such inhumanity.
Explanation / Answer
Patients with severe psychiatric illness may not realize that they are suffering from a disease that significantly distorts their comprehension of the world, including their own condition. When this is the case they have an impaired ability to make rational treatment choices. But this is certainly not the case for all patients with psychiatric disorders. Many patients suffering mental illness are disowned by the family and not been taken care of end up at such places.
The following points can be used as grounds for justification of such treatment
Relevant to such treatment is whether or not the person with a mental disorder is potentially dangerous to family or other citizens. Until and unless freedom of patient carries the risk of harm to other such treatment can be avoided and patient own health interest should be considered primary.
Apart from societal interest the other explanation for such treatment is patients own health interest.
Patients who are disowned by family, alone and lack ability to make rational treatment choices and show symptoms of severe mental illnesses are treated in such way to protect others as well as the patients.
This act can be justified if the patients in the cell are provided basic facilities, proper treatment and diagnosis and continuous monitoring for improvement, as well as presence of any person at such institutes has to have close monitoring by the legal authorities and other higher authorities who manage them.
Failure of provision of above mentioned things is breach of basic human rights.
Patients who have lack of autonomy as to decide what’s good for them, or those with severe mental illness who lack the insight about the illness end up at such places.
Actions by state government
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