MENTAL DEFECTIVES ACT ENFORCEMENT

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6802, 4 January 1929, Page 8

MENTAL DEFECTIVES ACT ENFORCEMENT

Cautious Advance MINISTER REFERS TO RECENT CASES PROBLEM OF GREAT MAGNITUDE Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. 2. In amplifying his remarks concerning the Government’s intentions as t the Mental Defective Amendment Act, which is now in force, the Miuiste- of Health states: — “There is obviously some misconception, not only as to the provisions of tho act, but in regard to the methods likely to be adopted in its practical application. It would appear that some people are expecting sudden and drastic alterations in the methods at present employed in dealing with menta defectives, but I think it will be found that the responsible officers are fully alive to the need of cautious advance, and that every care will be taken to exercise the powers conferred by tnc act in a manner which will tend to secure public confidence and co-opera-tion. , , “Certain sections of the act nave reference to the method of admission to mental hospitals, but these sections do r.ot abolish or alter the method now most generally employed to obtain admission, which consists of certification by two medical men and committal by a magistrate. The existent method remains, but the old urgency section, under which a person could be admitted on the application of a relative accompanied by one medical certificate, has boon repealed, and it is now necessary to have two certificates before a patient leaves home, and, in addition, a special certificate from the medical superintendent on arrival at the institution. 1 ‘ In passing, it may be said that a case recently. mentioned by Miss England was not sent to Porirua on one medical certificate, as alleged. The lady was examined by two leading Wellington medical men and a magistrate, and other investigations were made prior to her departure to Porirua. Tho case of another lady, who was recently refused admission to Porirua, illustrates the care which is taki n in regard to this matter by the department’s medical officers.

1 ‘ There is no possible method of preventing unscrupulous persons from making applications for committals, but, as the magistrate in dealing with this particular case said, there are safeguards against such cases being actually committed or admitted to the institution. The new alternative method will obviate the need for the magistrate's examination to take place at tho courthouse, and this will undoubtedly be a great relief to those facet! with the painful and embarrassing duty of placing relatives under care for mental trouble. This alternative procedure comes into operation on January 1. “The mari pu-rose of the Act is to secure care, treatment and training for those who are congenitally mentally deficient, in institutions where institutional care is necessary apart from those primarily intended for care and treatment of persons suffering from mental disorders. Tho separation of those classps whose problems are very different marks a big advance. The more one studies this problem, the more one is impressed with its magnitude, and the many different aspects from which the whole subject must be viewed in order to get the proper perspective, but the size and difficulty of the problem are no justification for shirking an attempt at its solution. Certain necessary preliminaries are already under way, and informal discussions have takea place between myself and the Inspector-General as to reforms, considered necessary, in regard particularly to the case of adolescent defectives of the delinquent class. Concrete action will be possible only after the board created under the act has given consideration to the whole question. ’ ’