posted on Mar, 8 2013 @ 02:09 PM
Originally posted by RobFox
what is insanity? What is the difference between being insane and being competent to stand trial? In your opinion what do you think the rights of
mental patients should be in regards to care and treatment? Do you think they should be able to refuse treatment (therapy, medications, etc)? Why or
why not?
In my opinion, insanity is a belief beyond doubt in anything which is not true. This could be as simple as thinking a person being cured of an ailment
was a miracle of God rather than simply the medical help they received, or on the other hand, as extreme as a paranoid schizophrenic with delusions
and hallucinations who is unable to function in society.
The difference between being insane and being competent to stand trial is a tough question. If the person fully believed they were doing the
"correct" thing, for example that God told them to kill people and they believed it was legitimate, then I think they should not be charged as a
normal person. If they are incapable of living a "normal" life due to their impairment, I think that should also be a major factor. The problem is
understanding the level at which a person is afflicted by such things... Anyone can claim insanity, but the burden lies in proving it.
As for their rights, I believe mental patients should have the right to refuse any and all PHYSICAL treatment; this mainly includes medication.
However, if they have been convicted of a serious crime, they should be placed into a care facility until they either decide to get the help they need
or somehow improve their condition, with or without medication.
I'm very much against the idea of forcing medication on people. When I was little, I was basically used as a human guinea pig by this one
psychiatrist who "diagnosed" me with something I did not have and put me on all these different medications, none of which did anything positive.
Relatively recently, due to an issue with constant tiredness/fatigue, I had at one point asked to be put on a particular antidepressant which was
known to alleviate such things. What followed was me having what I'll just say was an extremely unpleasant experience. I ended up having to go to the
hospital, where I was put in an observation room and essentially passed out for a few hours. Medication is not for everyone.