"'It's a population that's easy to abuse because they're not on the radar in any way"

This is why I fought my ass off to prevent my daughter from a psychiatric discharge to a state institution. Because I had been there for 3 weeks already as a visitor and saw the violence first-hand, there was no way on God's green earth my 19 year old was going to have that happen again.

A few months after I won that court battle; a nurse at my PCP office asked me how she was doing and when I told her what had happened (almost got sent to state institution)she SCREAMED, "You would have buried her now if she had been sent there!"

I AGREE.

And, the sad part of all of this is the above statement quoted in italics. People have the right to an advocate and states do not provide them, pay for them, or tell patients(who are vulnerable and don't know how to self-advocate most all of the time, or are incapacitated on drugs so they cannot think)that they have the right to one.

The ONLY reason my daughter survived the 3 week stay was because she was ON MY RADAR. She barely survived sexual assault threats with me right there, 6 hours a day.

What place asks a mother upon 18 year old daughter's arrival: "Can she say no to sexual assault?"

I find it unacceptable that ANY person working within this system injures patients.

Where is the dignity? these are people that yes, society at large considers "throw away people" and they are "off radar".

How can this be happening in the United States?

Yeah, I'll say the cat has somebody's tongue. Torrey and crew are not to be considered "mental health advocates" in any way shape or form.Hell, they promote places like these for "long term care"!!

I've been waiting for a hearing to materialize on this since first blogging on it 2 weeks ago. Not a peep from our elected officials, but for this quote, from Governor Perry on what it all means:

"The state is doing its job."

They fired some people, it's all good now.

The Treatment Advocacy Center and its supporters such as Sally Satel like to minimize the well known abuse and human rights violations in out countries state hospitals. Satel in fact wrote an editorial in the Weekly Standard calling for the elimination of our federal Protection and Advocacy system, an under-funded system that provides minimal to no protection for folks in state instiutions depending on the state.

There is not "little" but NO jusfification for abuse and neglect in something called a hospital. I am not sure why you would compare working conditions to that of a prison, there is no comparison, in prison they aren't allowed to sedate the prisoners into compliance and prisoners can actually get access to law libraries and lawyers. Have you ever heard of a state hospital riot as you hear of prison riots?

Abuse and neglect leading to death are going on in almost every state hospital in this country. The problem is the media and society and legislators mostly don't care.

So, an inmate coming after you with a knife in prison bears no comparison to the danger of an inmate coming after you with a knife in a psych ward. Why are you so intellectually dishonest, hymes?

If this had been a story about a person with a h/o mental illness who harmed someone, TAC would have had the story posted within the hour. But, they don't mention this news story because if they did they would have to address the problem. They focus on forcing people into treatment, and I use the term "treatment" loosely. But, what happens once the person is committed is of little consequence to them. Their work is done.

Lisa I think that's a good point "their work is done"; because in my opinion that's where it ends with social workers, doctors, discharge planners and anyone else involved in a patient's life; once they've been sent to the institution, they are not followed with consistent care, concern or an advocate. It's why so many are stuck in these places and I totally agree they are like prisons. I would never dare to say the one I've been in resembles a "hospital" at all. General public has no idea, and it's a gross negligence of the state of Texas to have allowed this to get this far. (and we know it happens across the country as well). It's disgusting treatment of human beings, who have lost dignity, respect and human concern. I also feel it's the saddest story to have to read, because no one cares, unless somehow directly involved or have been themselves in some way (like most commenters here). Until the general public becomes outraged it just keeps getting glossed over and left under the rug.

Robin, I can't discuss things with you when you call me names and insult me. If you want to discuss/disagree without calling me names and insulting me, I'm glad to do it, but otherwise: not. Oh and shivs aren't exacly common in psych. hospitals given that the inmates aren't allowed sharps.

When the lunatic doctors say that the presence of friends is hurtful to lunatic patients, they are not aware of the fact—at any rate do not acknowledge it—that the violent emotions and disturbance of spirit, which takes place on their sudden meeting with them MAY arise from their being overcome by a sense of their relations’ conduct toward them, in neglecting and abandoning them to the care and control of strangers, and from the treatment of the doctors themselves.
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oliviaharis