Discussion If involuntary hospitalization was abolished and change in policy..

[TAW122]

I'm basically adding onto my previous thread over a year ago in regards to involuntary commitment/hospitalization. So with that said, I am wondering, what if involuntary hospitalization was abolished (similar to how slavery was outlawed) and then any person (be it a medical professional, law enforcement, or citizen) found to be detaining a person against his/her will be charged under the same law as kidnapping, harassment, assault & battery, and more. Any damages sustained from such encounters, incidents, ordeals (be it physical or psychological, financial, etc.) then said person is also liable under criminal and civil law to pay back the person who was aggrieved. Also the aggrieved (the patient) would be able to file a lawsuit claiming damages (property damage, psychological and/or physical damage, reputation, standing in the community, etc.)

For example, John Doe called the police on Bob Bob and then Bob Bob suffered some physical injuries as a result of the physical intervention and also lost a few days of his time as well as his peace of mind. Then Bob Bob is able to sue John Doe for the damages (physical injuries albeit minor) and collect damages from John Doe. John Doe also faces some criminal charges for making a false report resulting in damages to Bob Bob.

I wonder if that would stop pro-lifers and authorities from forcible detaining people they deem to be 'dangerous'?

My suggestion for change in the policy/system:
Instead of having suicide prevention focusing on involuntary hospitalization, threats of involuntary hospitalization/commitment/lock up/detainment, have some people maybe discourage "impulsive" suicidal people from immediately acting on their decision and allow the patients or callers to be able to talk about suicide (including method, plans, and intent) without the risk of intervention or fear of the risk of intervention. If it is known that the person is a threat not only to him/herself, but also others, then act on notifying law enforcement of the dangers towards others, but if it's only to him/herself, then leave him/her be. With the threat of involuntary force, hospitalization, commitment taken away, people are more freely able to discuss the topics of suicide and death without fear of reprecussions. By allowing the individual to make the ultimate choice concerning their life or death, it gives them the autonomy and freedom make choices and take risks that they otherwise would be afraid of, thus they feel less trapped and less compelled knowing that they are allowed to exit whenever they choose to. In a sense, on the large picture, it saves more people than the current way of doing things.

Extra idea, food for thought...
And an extra food for thought.. what if there was a law that now forbids hospitals and medical professionals from charging their patients if it was a court-ordered, or temporary psychiatric hold? (of course, in a capitalistic society, that would (almost) never happen... but in many countries afaik they don't get charged for the admission.) In other words, meaning that if the patient was detained against his/her will and then forced to go there for treatment (under threat of force, coercion, duress, or court order), then the bills that result from it is not sent to the patient. Instead the bills would be paid by the taxpayer and/or the party responsible for detaining and/or sending the patient to the hospital.

 

[faust]

I think you are right with your suggestions. We are talking too much about freedom while people are still "sectioned" and suicide is deemed a worldwide tragedy.
In my opinion, in every country there should not be any things like "sectioning".
If we are concerning CTB as an occurrence, a person who wants to CTB in 99,9% of cases is not dangerous to society.
That's why holding such a person for 2-3 weeks is just a nonsense, it is really a waste of time and violation of basic human rights.
Instead we could arrange something like daily calls or daily reports when people will be able to communicate to doctors and tell them frankly how they are going.
I don't know anybody who would call their psychiatrist or any other therapist every single day, let alone several times a day.
Catching the bus for us is as natural as to be born. It is a very nice opportunity to choose our own death, its time and method how to go.
Instead of torturing all those people in hospitals and psych.wards, we could just end their suffering.
As for me, "sentence" in psych.ward would be a huge challenge because I love freedom and it often calls me.
We should not be kept in cages (yes, in cages, because the same treatment animals get in zoos)
Plus all those bills which may be a consequence of sectioning.
Also I think that medication for people with mental health problems should be free as well as psychiatrists. If a person has something serious, he/she is probably on disability allowance and sometimes it is not enough money for endless visits to doctors and medication.
In the end, we do live in the world where cops may come because you told somebody you are suicidal.
So it is a long way for further changes.