NCJ Number
10143
Date Published
1972
Length
232 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR'S OPINION IS THAT THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF MENTALLY DISTURBED PERSONS ARE ABROGATED BY PRESENT MENTAL HYGIENE LAWS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR SERVED AS LEGAL DEFENDER FOR MOST OF THE CASES IN THIS BOOK. THE NARRATIVES EXEMPLIFY THE AMBIGUITY IN USAGE OF THE TERM 'MENTAL ILLNESS' AND THE VARIETY OF LEGAL AND PSYCHIATRIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS MENTAL ILLNESS. ENNIS SUGGESTS TIGHTENING OF COMMITMENT CRITERIA, THE IMPOSITION OF ABSOLUTE OR PRESUMPTIVE LIMITS ON LENGTH OF INVOLUNTARY HOSPITALIZATION AND THE CREATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FACILITIES AS STEPS TOWARD THE ABOLITION OF INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT.