In recent years, several states have made changes to their policies to make involuntary commitment easier for individuals with severe mental illnesses. However, the issue of forced treatment continues to raise civil rights questions, with some arguing that it can do more harm than good for patients. Today’s episode of On Point will delve into the ethical dilemma surrounding involuntary mental health treatment.
Our guests for this discussion include Will James, host of KUOW and The Seattle Times’ “Lost Patients” podcast, and Dominic Sisti, associate professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Scattergood Program for the Applied Ethics of Behavioral Health Care. Additionally, we will hear from Laura Craciun, a mother whose son struggles with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features and anosognosia, and Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu, founder and executive director of Project LETS.
The complex issues surrounding involuntary mental health treatment are many. On one hand, proponents argue that forced treatment can save lives by ensuring that those who need help receive it. On the other hand, opponents argue that it is a violation of civil liberties and can be harmful to patients in many ways.
Laura Craciun knows firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the legal system when it comes to involuntary commitment. Her son has struggled with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features and anosognosia for years, making it hard for him to understand his own illness or seek help on his own. When he was hospitalized last year due to a manic episode, Laura was faced with difficult decisions about whether or not he should be committed against his will.
Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu also has experience working with individuals who have been involuntarily committed. As founder and executive director of Project LETS (Let’s Empower Troubled Minds), she works to provide resources and support for those who have been committed as well as their families. She has seen firsthand how important it is to ensure that patients are receiving appropriate care during their time in a facility.
Dominic Sisti is an expert in medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Scattergood Program for the Applied Ethics of Behavioral Health Care. He has written extensively on the topic of involuntary commitment and believes that while there are valid concerns about patient autonomy, there are also important considerations around public safety when dealing with those who pose a risk to themselves or others. He argues that any decision regarding involuntary commitment must take both individual rights and public safety into account.