The problem is that, treatment techniques aside, the court orders which resulted in the mass releasing of the mentally ill from institutionalization back into the general population about doubled or more the homeless population. I don't recall the case citation or details, but from memory there was an ACLU case on behalf of those who had been institutionalized but were deemed not to be a danger to anyone. The problem of course is that many of those same cannot be relied on to A) get their prescriptions refilled, and B) even take their medications which keep them functioning if there isn't an adult supervisor present to make sure that they do it.rwg3 wrote:like all stories there is some of both. Lobotomy was an accepted treatment method for a very long time. It became quite popular in the 30's and was still practiced into the 80's. It has a great following in the institutuional world where patients who were deemed uncompliant were given them to reduce their acting out. It was also given to young women there to reduce their interest in certain physical urges. With the advent of widespread psychiatric meds the surgery rate slowed and as patients rights became more recognized the practice has all nut stopped. I suspect that it is still practiced occasionally, but mostly it is now a chemical treatment.heartland patriot wrote:When I was a kid, I saw the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest" and it certainly had its impact on me. Now that I am older, I wonder how much was the truth and how much was emotional propaganda...
So, even without visiting the libertarian argument about whether or not the state has any business institutionalizing someone who hasn't yet been adjudicated as dangerous to themselves or someone else, there is still a basic humanitarian question to be answered. One measure of a civilized society is the extent and quality of the care it provides to the mentally incompetent. But Autism and Asbergers present a dilemma for the mental health professional. Temple Grandin is an example of a highly functioning and productive member of society who is very much affected by Autism. Whether one thinks of her as a genius or a nutburger, she's at least not a net drain on society. Her books make her a productive citizen if nothing else. But all the same, there is no denying her Autism. Again, I'm no clinician, but what I have observed (and only what I have observed) about the specific subset of Autistics known as having Asbergers is that they can be particularly difficult exactly because they can also be functioning at a very high order.
I suppose that absent any state mandate for institutionalization, then it falls, fairly or not, on the shoulders of the affected person's family to make sure that their needs are met and that they pose no threat to the public. Unfortunately, not everyone is emotionally or financially equipped for the demands that this will place on them. This tragic shooting in part flows out of that.