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We Need to Establish a Legal Right to Treatment

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Last week, I explained why I believe the “dangerousness” criteria is an impediment to getting people the help that they need. One reason why civil rights activists pushed hard in the 1970s to get “dangerousness” established was because forcing someone into a state mental hospital was a draconion move.  Being committed was often a de facto life prison sentence. Barbaric treatments, such as forced lobotomies, destroyed lives.

What happens today if someone is forcibly committed?

 In Virginia, on average, you will spend five days or less in a locked mental ward. Your “treatment” will be medication and, if you are willing, therapy in groups where the topic will center almost exclusively on the importance of taking medication. After your five days end, you will be discharged. If you are fortunate, you will be linked to community services. But there’s a good chance that you will be released without any serious follow up.

In short, your life will have been disrupted — not only by your illness — but by the state. Yet, little will be done to actually help you recover from your disorder or help you better handle your symptoms.

This is not meaningful treatment. It explains why some critics are so adamant about clinging to the “dangerousness” criteria. Deep down, they do not believe involuntary commitments benefit anyone. Click to continue…

Podcast, Speech, and new Nelson DeMille novel

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I will be speaking at a local library tonight [June 8th] in Fairfax about some of my adventures as an author. The informal program begins at 6 p.m. at the Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Avenue, Vienna, Virginia.  The libary also did a podcast interview with me that can be heard here.

My first literary agent also represented Nelson DeMille and for the past 24 years, Nelson and I have been friends. His newest book, The Lion, is being released today and   I read an advance copy weeks ago that he sent me and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are looking for a summer read, get a copy.

My favorite DeMille book is Word of Honor but all of his novels are well-worth your time. Nelson’s writing is filled with wit, sarcasm, and lots of twists and turns. Here’s what his publisher says about his new book.
“John Corey, former NYPD homicide detective and now a special agent for the Anti-Terrorist Task Force is back. Unfortunately, so is Asad Khalil, the notorious Libyan terrorist otherwise known as “The Lion.” When last we heard from him, Khalil had claimed to be defecting to the U.S. only to unleash the most horrific reign of terror ever to occur on American soil. While Corey and his partner, FBI agent Kate Mayfield, pursued him across the country, Khalil methodically eliminated his victims one by one and then disappeared without a trace. Now, three years later, Khalil has returned to America to make good on his threats and take care of unfinished business. “The Lion” is a killing machine once again loose in America with a mission of revenge, and John Corey will stop at nothing to achieve his own goal – to find and kill Khalil.”