LUNACY REFORM

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1929, Page 5

LUNACY REFORM

BOARD OF CONTROL REPLIES. LONDON, June 11. Much comment has been aroused by a letter from Dr Thomas Dutton, of 25, New Cavendish street, W. published in “ Tli© Daily Mail ’’ yesterday. Dr Dutton wrote:— Reform of the Lunacy Acts is long oyeydue. The patients I have 'been able to release should never have been certified but treated in a mental hospital or nursing home. In many of the public asylums, I am afraid, the (diet and physical treatment are woysq • than’in prisons.’ - ;‘.L " Inquiries made by a “Daily Mail” reporter, show that, while there is alriibst’ universal ' agreement a hiring ex*' ports on the need, for reform bf 'tHe Lunacy Acts, the allegations made -by Dr:? Dutton ! as: to : .certification:'? rand' treatment, are denied and, resented.DOCTORS’ DILEMMA

Tt is almost impossible to-day, according to one. authority to get a doctor in private practice to certify a patient as insane, since in recent cases damages were given against doctors who issued such certificates in the best, of faith. I

£ j,The Board of Control is the body responsible for tire control and inspection of all public and private lunatic : asylums. ' ‘The board’s reply to Dr Dutton’s allegation as to'improper cortifiactidn and detention is to .point to the emphatic statement made by the Royal Commission on Lunacy that it had been unable to find in any hospital a jungle case of unjustified detention. , All private lunatic asylums are inspected by medical experts on behalf of the board at least twice a year and all public asylums at least one a year. The reason given for the less frequency of the inspections in the latter case is that since patients there are maintained at the public expense it is natural to suppose that the officers in charge will be anxious to secure their earlv release. MADE TO DO MENTAL TASKS. A reader who “resents the way decent class people are treated in mental homes” writes: A member of my own family was .sent to a mental home and a charge of nearly £2 a week was made. This we did hot mind, but we learnt so r called nurses not only ill-treated but swore and generally treated this refined person like dirt. Not only was she made to 1 do menial tasks that she had never been used to but the nurses in charge, many of them young enough eo be her daughter, used blasphemous languages and would subject her to potty tyrannies. Another reader writes to say: The National Society for Lunacy Law Reform, 60, Avon lie-chambers. Southampton-row, W.C.I, is doing a useful and noble work.