Thursday, November 23, 2006

The Only Ones

The headline on FARK read "Only one cop had to die for a judge to suggest that maybe mental patients should be required to get treatment even if they don't want it."

That just about sums it up.

During the inquiry, Ayotte also heard what he called alarming statistics about drug use, suicide and the difficulty in treating people with the current number of psychiatrists who practise in Edmonton.

The report recommends that the provincial government spend the necessary amount of money to recruit, train and keep psychiatrists in Alberta.

The judge also suggests the Mental Health Act be amended to allow patients to be kept in treatment, regardless of their personal wishes.

Ayotte said if such legislation had been in place in the years leading up to this incident, the tragedy might have been avoided.

I wonder how many who didn't belong to the exclusive "Only Ones" club have died without any such investigations and recommendations?

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