THE PRESS SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1979. Healthier view of illness

Press, 16 June 1979, Page 14

THE PRESS SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1979. Healthier view of illness

Recently the public became aware of a decision by Sunnyside Hospital authorities and the Director of Mental Health to grant occasional and escorted leave to a special patient. On the ground of his mental illness at the time of an offence the patient had been found by a jury to be not guilty of a crime and he was committed to the care of the hospital.

Undoubtedly the jury was persuaded by expert evidence that this was the proper decision. Now expert opinion on the patient's recovery has led to the conclusion that no harm and much good can come from the man’s occasional visit to friends outside the hospital. A public controversy about a particular person in these circumstances would be regrettable. In fact the hospital authorities should be able to take great satisfaction from the absence of public disapproval. Not so very many years ago the common attitude towards psychiatric illnesses would have prevented or greatly restricted such decisions by hospitals. People in charge of hospitals had to work on the assumption that public opinion would resist their giving any freedom to a patient in such circumstances. Times and attitudes have changed and the more understanding view of mental illness that people

working in psychiatric medicine have tried to foster for a long time has at last enabled the hospitals to act on their best judgment of the patient. Clearly they are not insensitive to what they judge to be public opinion; to ignore that might create problems for the patient: but at least they need no longer feel that they have no room in which to do what they think is best for the patient.

If they see benefit in giving leave to patients they no longer have to do so in secrecy. Openness about their policy can only reinforce public confidence in professional decisions of this kind. Public opinion has probably been enlightened also by the fact that most illnesses can be treated in psychiatric hospitals and wards with considerable success. The notion that mental illnesses or disturbances are permanent is a thing of the past. The fact that hospitals have been able to grant leave to special patients without running into difficulties is further evidence of the judgment being exercised. If hospitals are not free to use their judgment in these matters they will find themselves, as before, the custodians of people who, by all normal standards, are perfectly well in mind and body, and who, in the minds of courts are without guilt.