MENTAL CASES

Evening Star, Issue 18717, 20 August 1924, Page 9

MENTAL CASES

METHOD OF COMMITTAL, SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS PROVIDED. The case reported from Auckland, in ■which a man was ordered to be discharged from a mental institution, to which ho had been committed through alleged delusions, and the discussion in Parliament yesterday on the subject of mental hospitals generally, led to some inquiries being made in Dunedin to-day respecting the methods of committal to such institutions. Among other things ascertained, it was learned that the legislation on tho subject is contained in the Mental Defectives Act, 1911. The procedure, briefly, is for the nearest relatives, if available, to make application for the committal of the person suspected to bo mentally defective. The application, necessarily by a. person over twenty-ono years of age, must bo made to a magistrate on a specially-pro-vided form, on which must bo stated the grounds of tho application and a large number of other particulars relating to the history of tho person respecting whom the application is made. On presentation of this petition, the magistrate sees the applicant, gets any further he can. and then calls in two medical practitioners. Unless, in the opinion of tho magistrate, there is sufficient reason to the contrary, one of tho medical practitioners called to his assistance shall ho the usual medical attendant of the person alleged to be mentally deiective. The medical men examine the patient, and, if the magistrate is satisfied after they have certified the person as mentally defective, and after ho has heard any further evidence he may desire, he makes a reception order authorising the person to be. detained. The medical certificate which the macist-rate requires from each of the two practitioners called in is made on a form which sets forth that tho doctor has personally examined the patient, and that he is of opinion that the patient is a men tallydefective person requiring detention. Then the doctor is required to state tho facts observed by him on the occasion of the examination, on which his opinion is based. Further, he may indicate facts, showing mental defects which have been observed by him on other occasions than (he date of his examination, and _ facts which have been communicated to him by others.

The Act appears to have sufficient safeguards against the possibility of a person who is, not defective being committed. The medical practitioners who are called in are usually those who have had considerable experience in dealing with such cases, and the magistrate is one whose judicial mind enables him to thoroughly sift the evidence tendered and the statements of the doctors. There are a number of cases which, while appearing normal to the ordinary person, are quite apparently not normal to the medical man. Everything ' considered, it seems that a great, deal rests on the calibre of the medical men who make the examination and the experience of the magistrate before whom the case is brought. Dunedin is said lu be particularly fortunate in both respects. The reception order which is made by the magistrate in the first place ceases to operate at the end of December in any year after that in which it is made unless the Inspector-General is in receipt on that date of a certificate by the medical officer of the institution that he has considered the case of the patient to whom the order refers, and is oi the opinion that further detention is for the patient's own good or in the public interest. Provision is also made for an inquiry to be held by a magistrate if it is reported to the Minister that £ patient is fit to be discharged.