TAW122
Emissary of the right to die.
- Aug 30, 2018
- 7,355
Check out this site talking about the basis of involuntary commitment and what gives the authorities the legal power/legal right to strip a citizen of their freedom.
mentalillnesspolicy.org
This kind of shit is infuriating!
In short, the first paragraph discussing about involuntary commitment talks about how the police and authorities have the power to strip another citizen of their freedom, liberty, rights. This is the principle of "parens patriae" which is to help the people who can't be helped. Now before you jump on me for painting it with a broad brush, allow me to explain:
First off, the policy and concept allows state (government) intervention in cases of child abuse, parental neglect, elder abuse, incapacitated individuals, disabled individuals, etc. which is good in those cases and in situations where those wish to be "saved". However, by extending it to apply to rationally suicidal people and deliberately suicidal people (those who decide to and willfully choose to CTB) is what is problematic.
The second problem is the presumption that those who wish to CTB are unable to help themselves and wish to be helped (not always the case). Yes, while there are some people who do it impulsively and in the spur of a moment, I think most people who willfully attempt CTB do it after a long period of suffering, planning, and even rationalization before committing the attempt/act. For those people, they don't just wake up one day and decide well I'm going to CTB. It is after a long careful deliberation, consideration of their reality, acquisition of their method of choice, mustering of courage to overcome their SI, and then finally, after all those hoops and steps to jump through (all while under the radar as much as they can), they attempt.
Now the problem with the criteria for 'danger' is that it is broad and what one party (yes, the government and the state is a party too) defines as a 'danger' may not constitute as danger in another party and vice versa. Nevertheless, by having such a broad criteria, this allows a lot of room for abuse and even governmental overstep in it's powers to censor and silence as well as (legally) persecute those who they do not agree with or believe to be a threat towards their agenda. Furthermore, mental health professionals and healthcare workers also have their own criterion for danger and this sets a huge precedent for abuse without checks in place let alone processes and organizations that will effective police the medical industry. It's easy for professionals to abuse their power yet it's hard for a patient to prove that the professional is wrong, let alone even getting redress or any justice.
In the final part of this article, it talks about anosognosia which is a condition in which one lacks self-awareness. It is ironic that the people in charge think that the people who want to CTB are lacking self-awareness. This couldn't be further from the truth. If anything, people who wish to CTB, especially those who have planned meticulously and carefully KNOW what they are doing and what they are getting into. In fact, they are MORE aware than the average person. To claim that they don't know what they are doing nor know that they are ill is a huge insult to our community as a whole.
Legal Basis for Involuntary Commitment and Involuntary Treatment : Mental Illness Policy Org
Involuntary commitment and involuntary treatment of mentally ill is important tool for treating mental illness. Involuntary commitment is not the same as involuntary treatment. Involuntary commitment is taking away someone's right to be where they want, while involuntary treatment is treating...
This kind of shit is infuriating!
In short, the first paragraph discussing about involuntary commitment talks about how the police and authorities have the power to strip another citizen of their freedom, liberty, rights. This is the principle of "parens patriae" which is to help the people who can't be helped. Now before you jump on me for painting it with a broad brush, allow me to explain:
First off, the policy and concept allows state (government) intervention in cases of child abuse, parental neglect, elder abuse, incapacitated individuals, disabled individuals, etc. which is good in those cases and in situations where those wish to be "saved". However, by extending it to apply to rationally suicidal people and deliberately suicidal people (those who decide to and willfully choose to CTB) is what is problematic.
The second problem is the presumption that those who wish to CTB are unable to help themselves and wish to be helped (not always the case). Yes, while there are some people who do it impulsively and in the spur of a moment, I think most people who willfully attempt CTB do it after a long period of suffering, planning, and even rationalization before committing the attempt/act. For those people, they don't just wake up one day and decide well I'm going to CTB. It is after a long careful deliberation, consideration of their reality, acquisition of their method of choice, mustering of courage to overcome their SI, and then finally, after all those hoops and steps to jump through (all while under the radar as much as they can), they attempt.
Now the problem with the criteria for 'danger' is that it is broad and what one party (yes, the government and the state is a party too) defines as a 'danger' may not constitute as danger in another party and vice versa. Nevertheless, by having such a broad criteria, this allows a lot of room for abuse and even governmental overstep in it's powers to censor and silence as well as (legally) persecute those who they do not agree with or believe to be a threat towards their agenda. Furthermore, mental health professionals and healthcare workers also have their own criterion for danger and this sets a huge precedent for abuse without checks in place let alone processes and organizations that will effective police the medical industry. It's easy for professionals to abuse their power yet it's hard for a patient to prove that the professional is wrong, let alone even getting redress or any justice.
In the final part of this article, it talks about anosognosia which is a condition in which one lacks self-awareness. It is ironic that the people in charge think that the people who want to CTB are lacking self-awareness. This couldn't be further from the truth. If anything, people who wish to CTB, especially those who have planned meticulously and carefully KNOW what they are doing and what they are getting into. In fact, they are MORE aware than the average person. To claim that they don't know what they are doing nor know that they are ill is a huge insult to our community as a whole.
